《Disciplinary Code》


 CH 1

    Ji Yao didn¡¯t expect that one day he would actually run into Jiang Heng.


    The newly opened bar was filled with noise, colorful flashing lights bouncing around non-stop.


    The public seating area was filled with the faint sound of falling bottle caps. Ji Yao huddled in a corner of the semi-open seating area, absentmindedly rubbing the cold glass of the wine glass with his fingers.


    His gaze fell on a man in a suit and leather shoes not far from where he was ¨C the man had just taken a seat ten minutes ago and had just received a glass of iced whisky from the bartender.


    The man was dressed in a dark blue casual suit and wore a clean mechanical watch on his left hand. The lights in the bar refracted off the ice cubes in his glass and shone onto the watch face, leaving behind a sparkling light.


    Though the man was facing away from Ji Yao, Ji Yao easily filled in his face in his mind.


    Seeing Jiang Heng at that moment, Ji Yao hadn¡¯t expected it himself. After three years, he could still recognize him at a glance with just a side profile.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± He Xiangyin, who had circled back from the bar, plopped down beside Ji Yao. He stretched his arm and tapped Ji Yao¡¯s glass with his, casually asking, ¡°Found something interesting?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ji Yao withdrew his gaze and said, ¡°It¡¯s too noisy.¡±


    He Xiangyin didn¡¯t believe his words. He followed the direction Ji Yao had looked earlier and glanced towards the bar counter, spotting Jiang Heng sitting there.


    No other reason but in this chaotic environment, Jiang Heng was simply too eye-catching.


    He wasn¡¯t alone; there was a young man sitting next to him. He appeared to be in his early thirties, similar in age to Jiang Heng, and their fashion sense was somewhat alike. The man held a brightly colored cocktail in his hand and was engrossed in conversation with Jiang Heng.


    Jiang Heng listened with his head slightly tilted to the side, a silver semi-frame pair of glasses perched on his nose. His eyes behind the lenses curved slightly, showing a concentrated expression.


    Under the noisy music, it was wishful thinking to try and hear a conversation from several meters away. But He Xiangyin quickly shifted his gaze away, gesturing towards Jiang Heng¡¯s back.


    ¡°Do you have a crush on him?¡± He Xiangyin said, ¡°As a friendly advice, you should give up on him. You can¡¯t handle him.¡±


    ¡°Do you know him?¡± Ji Yao took a sip of his drink and asked casually.


    ¡°Not very well, but I have a friend who was his former schoolmate. I¡¯ve heard a bit about him,¡± He Xiangyin said, ¡°He¡¯s quite a celebrity at the University. His posts still pop up occasionally on the campus forum.¡±


    Ji Yao twirled his glass in his hand.


    Jiang Heng graduated from Shanghai University, he knew that. The circle was small for people with their sexual orientation, and it wasn¡¯t unusual to hear about each other.


    But Jiang Heng had left Shanghai after graduating, and it had been about six years since then. It was quite unbelievable that people still knew his ¡°name.¡±


    However, Ji Yao thought again and realized that it wasn¡¯t that strange if it was indeed Jiang Heng.


    He was the kind of person who was deep, affectionate and devoted, with an unexplainable wellspring of energy. He could always remember various anniversaries, birthdays, and details about his lovers¡¯ preferences, and he enjoyed creating surprises in the mundane life, like a natural love machine that could be brought out and used as a ¡°template¡± whenever needed.


    He was like a rose that never withered, and like a spring that never ran dry, able to offer love without pause.


    So, despite the fact that his moments of deep affection were always short-lived, there were still people who continued to pursue him one after another.


    ¡°They say he¡¯s a playboy, he¡¯s caught more fish than I¡¯ve eaten meat,¡± He Xiangyin lowered his voice, gossiping, ¡°But oddly enough, none of his exes can find fault with him ¨C it¡¯s absurd. You better not get involved with him.¡±


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t respond to this, he just took another sip of his drink and looked away.


    In his heart, he thought, ¡°I know about this¡± ¨C he knew it too well. In fact, he knew so much about Jiang Heng that he could probably host a tea party with all of Jiang Heng¡¯s exes and nobody would understand him better.


    He had experienced Jiang Heng¡¯s terrifyingly deep affections and thoughtfulness, making him the person who understood Jiang Heng¡¯s limits the most in this world.


    ¡°However, I think if you¡¯re really interested in him, you might as well give it a try,¡± He Xiangyin leaned in with interest, nudging Ji Yao with his elbow, ¡°Fight fire with fire; who knows, you might be able to provoke a dragon. But it might be a bit tricky in terms of positioning; I heard he¡¯s a top.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    He withdrew his hand in silence, placed his glass on the table, and picked up his coat from the back of his chair. Then, he stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± Ji Yao said.


    ¡°Why? It¡¯s not even halfway through the night,¡± He Xiangyin complained, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to go out hunting for fun tonight?¡±


    ¡°I have an early start tomorrow,¡± Ji Yao said.


    He Xiangyin rolled his eyes, seeing through him,


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, i need to do rounds in the morning,¡± Ji Yao said, unperturbed, and turned to walk into the crowd. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the midst of the noise and colors.


    He Xiangyin didn¡¯t manage to catch that slippery fish, he could only watch him slip away.


    Jiang Heng at the bar also stood up, slightly inclined his body, and inquired about the restroom¡¯s location from the bartender. Ji Yao walked past Jiang Heng, unaffected, as he was behind him, separated only by a man who had passed by.


    At that moment, Jiang Heng had no idea about this one sided ¡°encounter.¡± He finished his drink, placed the glass upside down on the table, and politely declined the bartender¡¯s offer for another drink.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving,¡± Jiang Heng glanced at his watch and said to the man beside him, ¡°I arranged to play night golf with Director Wang.¡±


    ¡°Is it necessary to rush like this?¡± Gao Jingyi looked puzzled, ¡°You just finished a case not long ago.¡±


    ¡°I started from scratch, so it¡¯s going to be a bit tough,¡± Jiang Heng teased, winking at him, ¡°Otherwise, the entire law firm will be starving.¡±


    Gao Jingyi: ¡°¡­¡±


    Inwardly rolling his eyes, Gao Jingyi thought that this guy really dotes on himself too much, he¡¯s like a wound-up AI, never getting tired.


    ¡°No matter how you start from scratch, you don¡¯t have to resort to selling yourself for business,¡± Gao Jingyi teased, ¡°You¡¯re young, take care not to drop dead suddenly.¡±


    Jiang Heng chuckled and buttoned up his shirt collar, standing up and turning to leave. He casually said, ¡°I want to sell myself; it¡¯s much simpler than handling cases ¨C¡±


    As he spoke, he had already taken a few steps forward, and separated by the deafening music, Gao Jingyi reminded him, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t drive if you feel drunk!¡±


    Without turning back, Jiang Heng waved his hand, indicating that he heard.


    Ji Yao¡¯s plans for the night were completely disrupted by the sudden appearance of Jiang Heng, so he decided to head home.


    Having only been in Shanghai for a few years, Ji Yao had rented a bachelor apartment near the hospital where he worked. The location was good, and it was suitable for living alone.


    He never brought his partners home, so the relatively small bachelor apartment often felt somewhat desolate.


    Ji Yao, being slightly OCD, neatly arranged his coat and shoes, then finished his quick wash, and finally plunged headfirst into his bed, placing his phone with the preset alarm under his pillow.


    ¨C He wasn¡¯t lying to He Xiangyin, the hospital had been really busy lately, and he indeed had to go back for rounds early in the morning.


    Jiang Heng appearing in his line of sight was unexpected, but Ji Yao didn¡¯t want to think too deeply about this unexpected encounter.


    His inherently avoidant personality trait emerged, so he didn¡¯t overthink why Jiang Heng, after three years, would inexplicably appear in Shanghai, nor did he ponder the remarkable odds of running into his ex-boyfriend suddenly. Instead, he crudely covered himself with the blanket and decided to use sleep to cope with this unexpected situation.


    Unfortunately, Ji Yao didn¡¯t succeed this time.


    Because he had a dream.


    The tones in the dream were dim and blurry, and a dark, warm light unique to dusk seeped through the sheer curtains. It gave off an inexplicable sense of unreality.


    Ji Yao was in a daze, feeling as if his head was filled with a lump of paste, his body sticky and heavy. Something seemed to be taking root and sprouting deep within him, as if it would pierce through his chest in the next second and grow out from within.


    He noticed that his wrists were bound with some soft fabric, stretched high above his head, tied to the iron frame of the bed, rendering him unable to move.


    The fabric was narrow and thin, already soaked with sweat.


    The clear silhouette cast a shadow over his head, followed by a warm body temperature, and a hand gently grasped his wrist from the outside, using an irresistible force to hold onto his wrist.


    Ji Yao rubbed his ankle against the bed sheet, creating a slight crease in the soft silk material.


    This subtle reaction seemed to be noticed by someone ¨C so the next moment, he was flipped over completely. The previous shadow quickly covered him again from behind, pressing even closer.


    Ji Yao felt as if he had been thrown into scalding magma, large beads of sweat dripped down his forehead, wetting his eyelashes, and finally forming a small damp spot on the light gray pillow.


    His gaze blurred, unable to see anything clearly. But he knew that was Jiang Heng¡¯s favorite tie.


    Gunmetal gray, with a subtle wave-like pattern.


    The next moment, a hand came from the side, reaching over to grasp Ji Yao¡¯s ring finger, gently kneading it.


    Then, Ji Yao heard Jiang Heng¡¯s muffled laughter near his ear, and he seductively licked his earlobe.


    ¡°Ji Yao, let¡¯s spend our lives together,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    Ji Yao trembled all over, suddenly waking up from the dream.

 CH 2

    Ji Yao¡¯s body and mind were still lingering in his dream as he blinked in confusion, his chest rising and falling rapidly.


    It took him a good three minutes to fully wake up from the dream, and then he belatedly realized that something was off. He weakly touched the bedsheet with his hands and felt a sticky, cold sensation.


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    And then he was fully awake.


    A few seconds later, Ji Yao somewhat annoyedly pulled out two tissues from the bedside table to clean his hands, then clenched his teeth as he tossed the crumpled tissues into the trash can at the foot of the bed.


    Having a dream about his ex-boyfriend in the middle of the night was simply ridiculous!


    It was still dark outside and Ji Yao checked his phone. The time on the screen had just changed from 4:36 to 4:37 AM, with a little over an hour left until dawn.


    Feeling awkward and with his cleanliness tendencies kicking in, Ji Yao decided not to lie back down and sleep. Instead, he stripped the bed sheet and covers off the bed and stuffed them into the washing machine.


    As the washing machine rumbled to life, Ji Yao wiped his sweaty forehead and stood there, staring at the washing machine for a good minute and a half, letting the frustration slowly dissipate.


    He tossed his sleepwear into the laundry basket and went into the bathroom for a quick shower. Coming from the bathroom as the dawn light was just beginning to break, Ji Yao picked up his phone from the bedside and scrolled through his WeChat contacts. After a moment, he found a familiar profile picture and tapped on it.


    ¡°Jiang Heng is in Shanghai.¡±


    Ji Yao stared at the message for a moment, feeling that it carried a slight ambiguity, as if he was still holding some lingering feelings for the person. He deleted the message and replaced it with, ¡°Jiang Heng is in Shanghai. Did you know?¡±


    On the other end of the conversation, the person seemed like a machine with automatic replies ready to go. As soon as Ji Yao sent the message, he quickly received a notification that the person was typing.


    Waiting patiently for over a minute, Ji Yao didn¡¯t receive a reply; instead, he got a call.


    He answered and put the phone on speaker, letting it rest on the bed as he rummaged through his closet for clothes to wear to work.


    ¡°Jiang Heng?¡± the voice on the other end of the line was somewhat unclear, ¡°Has he come back to China?¡±


    The voice sounded groggy, and there were a bunch of background noises. Ji Yao could even make out muffled laughter and banter, likely from a night of partying that had yet to conclude.


    ¡°No,¡± before Ji Yao could reply, the person on the other end caught on to what was being said and inquired, ¡°How did you know he¡¯s in Shanghai? Have you two reconnected?¡±


    ¡°Not really, a friend ran into him,¡± Ji Yao offered a vague explanation and casually asked, ¡°Did he go abroad before?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ you didn¡¯t know,¡± the man on the phone sounded somewhat more sober now, taking a few steps to a quieter area, ¡°After you two broke up, he left the country a few months later. He went abroad to study, and we haven¡¯t heard from him in over two years.¡±


    Ji Yao fastened the buttons on his shirt and didn¡¯t say anything.


    ¡°Anyway, do you want me to help you gather some information?¡± the person on the other end continued, ¡°Not that I¡¯m saying anything, but I thought you two were perfect for each other back then. It¡¯s not easy to find someone who really knows you in our circle. You both have decent qualities, so it might be worth¡­¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Ji Yao was getting a bit irritated by his ramblings and cut in, saying, ¡°Thanks, but you just enjoy yourself.¡±


    He hung up the call, picked up his phone, and after a moment of contemplation, deleted the unfamiliar phone number from the message history.


    Ex-boyfriends were creatures best left in memories, not to be entangled in real life.


    While Ji Yao didn¡¯t think he and Jiang Heng had reached the point of mutual dislike, he had no intention of becoming involved with him again.


    Unfortunately, he seemed to be going through a streak of bad luck lately, and every time he made up his mind, the universe seemed to throw a curveball his way.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    At 2:46 AM, just as Ji Yao had managed to crawl into bed with the intention of snatching a few moments of sleep, he was stopped by a nurse on duty who followed him in.


    ¡°Dr. Ji, there¡¯s a call from the emergency department,¡± the nurse called him at the doorway, ¡°They say they¡¯re bringing in a patient with acute gastric bleeding and need the surgical team for consultation.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    He reluctantly got up from the bed, pulled out a wet wipe to dab his face, and headed out while asking, ¡°Where¡¯s the gastroenterology team?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve already gone,¡± the nurse replied.


    When Ji Yao arrived at the emergency department, it was already bustling with activity. He sidestepped a nurse hurrying out and scanned the area, asking, ¡°Where¡¯s the patient?¡±


    The emergency room was chaotic, with one bed occupied by a man who had been drinking too much and another by a young girl with a broken leg from a scooter accident.


    Thankfully, a young nurse approached and led him towards the innermost part of the emergency room.


    Walking a few steps forward, Ji Yao finally recognized the partially drawn curtain around the innermost bed. The on-duty doctor was bending over, examining the patient.


    ¡°Upper endoscopy.¡±


    Ji Yao heard this as he approached the bed. He was planning to ask about the situation, but before he could say anything, he and the ¡°patient¡± met each other¡¯s gaze and both froze for a moment.


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡ªWhy is he everywhere? Ji Yao wondered.


    Ji Yao¡¯s last impression of Jiang Heng was from the previous night at the bar, where he had exuded an air of sophistication and charm. Seeing him now, barely conscious in the emergency room, Ji Yao took a moment to process the situation.


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Ji Yao could hardly believe that Jiang Heng had reappeared at this moment, especially in such a state. His last memory of him was from the bar, and he had not expected to encounter him in the emergency room.


    On the other hand, Jiang Heng was quick to react. He managed to snap out of his daze, conjuring a faint smile on his pale face.


    Jiang Heng had always been graceful, maintaining basic courtesy in all circumstances. This was to the extent that Ji Yao had once suspected that even if Jiang Heng were to be taken away by death, his first words to the Grim Reaper would be, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    ¡°Ji Yao?¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°You work here?¡±


    His voice was barely audible, but he still managed to speak the words despite the difficulty.


    The on-duty doctor in the gastroenterology department was also taken aback by Ji Yao¡¯s presence. He turned to Ji Yao and asked, ¡°Dr. Ji, do you know each other?¡±


    Ji Yao made a sound of affirmation but didn¡¯t explain further. Instead, he moved to the other side of the bed, looking at Jiang Heng¡¯s condition.


    Before Ji Yao¡¯s arrival, the emergency department had already administered preliminary treatment to Jiang Heng. His wrinkled suit jacket lay at the bedside, his shirt buttons half undone, and an IV drip hung from his hand, flowing at a slightly fast rate.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s face was even paler than the bedsheets, with a hint of bloodstains on his lips. Ji Yao took a quick glance and guessed that he had probably vomited after being admitted. Most of the blood had been vomited onto the floor, with only a few spots staining the pillow. Presumably, he had been too uncomfortable to hold back.


    He was drenched in cold sweat on his forehead, indicating severe discomfort. His unoccupied hand continuously moved towards his stomach but stopped short each time, as if he couldn¡¯t decide whether to press down. Ji Yao instinctively held down his hand.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    This question was originally directed at the nurse, but Jiang Heng misunderstood, thinking that Ji Yao was asking him. Half-dazed, he assumed Ji Yao was questioning him and laboriously tried to recall, managing to force out a response, ¡°I took a deep water bomb ¡­ .in a drinking game¡­just  a cup though.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    However, Ji Yao knew Jiang Heng¡¯s alcohol tolerance well. A ¡°deep water bomb¡± was only about 50 milliliters, and Jiang Heng, being physically strong, shouldn¡¯t have been felled by just one cup. Ji Yao instinctively found this hard to believe.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Ji Yao inquired.


    ¡°Ten shots,¡± Jiang Heng added.


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    What a reckless thing to do, Ji Yao thought.

 CH 3

    In Ji Yao¡¯s emotional experiences, Jiang Heng was the first ex-boyfriend to reappear in front of him after their breakup.


    And his timing was too quick, too coincidental, and too specific, as if he had precisely struck Ji Yao¡¯s ¡°professional ethics¡± bottom line. leaving Ji Yao feeling awkward apart from the usual ¡°saving lives and aiding the wounded¡± thoughts.


    ¡°If I had known he would end up in the hospital where I work tonight, I should have accepted my colleague¡¯s shift change request,¡± Ji Yao thought.


    However, life is often dramatic, and things that fall right in front of your eyes can¡¯t be ignored, and things that come knocking on the door can¡¯t be avoided.


    Ji Yao considered himself a doctor with good professional ethics, and he truly didn¡¯t have any interest in seeing his ex suffer. So, he sighed inwardly and reluctantly pulled down the bedsheet, wiping away the trace of blood at the corner of Jiang Heng¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try to stop the bleeding first,¡± Ji Yao naturally knew why he was called to the emergency room. He turned to ask the nurse for basic information, then thought for a moment and said to the on-duty doctor opposite him, ¡°If we can find a medication to stop the bleeding at the source, it¡¯s best not to resort to surgery.¡±


    After that, Ji Yao took a step back, giving way to the digestive specialist. He turned his head and casually asked, ¡°Any family members?¡±


    The nurse standing at the end of the bed looked at Ji Yao with hesitation and shook her head, saying, ¡°No family members. He said no one can come.¡±


    ¡°What about friends or colleagues?¡± Ji Yao asked, ¡°Who brought him here?¡±


    ¡°He called the ambulance himself,¡± the nurse said, ¡°There¡¯s no one else. We asked him earlier, and he said he just arrived in Shanghai and doesn¡¯t have any relatives or friends here.¡±


    Listening to this¡ªJi Yao¡¯s first reaction was that it sounded absurd. With Jiang Heng¡¯s personality, not to mention him already being settled in Shanghai, even if he had just landed from a flight three days ago, he could have already established a network of connections from every nook and cranny.


    But the fact that he had no one to accompany him at the moment was true. Not being able to extract more information from the nurse, Ji Yao had no choice but to turn back and ask Jiang Heng himself.


    In the few minutes that passed, Jiang Heng was clearly in a lot of pain. His eyes were half-closed, he kept swallowing, suppressing the urge to vomit, and trying hard not to curl up.


    Ji Yao walked to the bedside, bent down, and nudged his shoulder, asking, ¡°Jiang Heng, the hospital needs to contact a family member. Can you provide someone¡¯s name so the hospital can reach out?¡±


    When they were together, Jiang Heng rarely mentioned his family and parents. Although Ji Yao didn¡¯t know what had happened between them, he could guess that their relationship wasn¡¯t great.


    At least, Jiang Heng didn¡¯t want anything to do with them.


    So Ji Yao thought for a moment and added, ¡°If there really are no family members, friends or colleagues would do.¡±


    Jiang Heng managed to open his eyes slightly, looked at Ji Yao, and said, ¡°None.¡±


    Ji Yao furrowed his brows, a hint of disagreement appearing on his face. He was about to urge Jiang Heng to cooperate when he saw Jiang Heng¡¯s lips curl into a bitter smile.


    ¡°Dr. Ji,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°I just returned to the country. Although I do have a job, I¡¯m barely acquainted with my colleagues. It¡¯s the middle of the night, should I really go begging favors from them?¡±


    ¡°Then other friends would do,¡± Ji Yao paused for a moment, seeming to save face for Jiang Heng. He lowered his voice slightly, leaning closer to Jiang Heng¡¯s ear and said, ¡°Fling, or anything else¡ªlike that guy you met at the bar last night.¡±


    Jiang Heng was taken aback and hadn¡¯t even figured out how Ji Yao knew he had been to a bar last night when Ji Yao continued, ¡°Your situation is quite serious. You definitely need someone to accompany you for the upcoming tests and procedures. You can¡¯t handle it all by yourself.¡±


    After Ji Yao finished speaking, Jiang Heng had just come back to his senses. He wasn¡¯t sure if he had heard Ji Yao¡¯s last sentence, but he still managed to curl his lips and muster a wry smile.


    ¡°Dr. Ji, my colleagues are merely acquaintances. It¡¯s a bit unrealistic to expect me to ask them for help, especially at this hour.¡±


    Ji Yao realized that he might have misunderstood the situation. He had projected his own impressions of Jiang Heng onto him, forgetting that his view of Jiang Heng was based on their relationship they had three years ago.


    With a slight frown, Ji Yao inwardly reflected on his assumptions.


    ¡°Dr. Ji,¡± Jiang Heng took a deep breath, then said, ¡°If there¡¯s a need to pay or complete any formalities, could I trouble you for that?¡±


    Ji Yao hesitated for a moment. His initial instinct was to refuse.


    But Jiang Heng seemed to regret saying that. He quickly realized that he had presented Ji Yao with a difficult choice. If Jiang Heng were in better condition, he wouldn¡¯t have made such a ¡°blunder.¡± Unfortunately, he was still in pain, and most of his energy was being used to endure the stomach ache, leaving him little capacity to think things through.


    However, retracting his request wasn¡¯t practical at this point, especially with Ji Yao and a bunch of doctors around. It felt like things wouldn¡¯t sit right no matter how deeply they were analyzed.


    ¡°That would work too,¡± the doctor from the Gastroenterology Department, unaware of the underlying tension, affirmed the feasibility of Jiang Heng¡¯s proposal. He then turned to Ji Yao and asked, ¡°Is that convenient for you, Dr. Ji?¡±


    Ji Yao couldn¡¯t really leave him alone in the situation. He sighed inwardly and compromised.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ji Yao said to his colleagues, who were unaware of the situation. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this.¡±


    He then lifted the sheet and took Jiang Heng¡¯s wallet from his clothes. Without needing to ask, Jiang Heng thoughtfully provided the relevant information.


    ¡°Industrial and Commercial Bank of China,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°The password is what you know, and it hasn¡¯t been changed.¡±


    Ji Yao glanced at Jiang Heng but didn¡¯t say anything, considering the busy emergency room environment. He took the wallet and left.


    The queue at the payment area wasn¡¯t too long. Ji Yao gave up his spot halfway through the line to an elderly man who had difficulty moving and returned to the back of the line. He took Jiang Heng¡¯s bank card from the wallet.


    The ¡°password¡± Jiang Heng mentioned was the date they officially became a couple. Jiang Heng always had a knack for romance. When they were together, he seamlessly integrated his partner into every aspect of his life, as if he was fully prepared to spend the rest of his life with them.


    It was as though he had a separate brain that stored all these related details, and Ji Yao had even wondered how Jiang Heng managed to never mix up these numerical pieces of information.


    The card Ji Yao held was covered with a protective film, looking like it had been replaced not too long ago.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s heart seemed like it was made of glass, vibrant and beautiful, yet not quite within reach. Ji Yao had been in a relationship with him for almost three years, but he didn¡¯t dare claim that he fully understood Jiang Heng.


    For instance, Ji Yao couldn¡¯t understand why Jiang Heng had kept a part of their relationship as a remembrance even after getting a new card.


    Ji Yao thought for a moment and then returned the card to the wallet. He paid Jiang Heng¡¯s medical expenses out of his own pocket.


    After a short delay at the payment area, Ji Yao returned to the emergency room just as Jiang Heng finished getting his stomach washed. The medication hadn¡¯t stopped the bleeding; the blood he vomited was bright red, indicating a significant loss of blood.


    ¡°Let¡¯s proceed with surgery.¡± The doctor from the Gastroenterology Department said to Ji Yao, ¡°He vomited again just now, and we couldn¡¯t get a clear view with the gastroscope.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ji Yao agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll admit him. Wake him up, and have him sign the surgery consent form.¡±


    The head nurse of the emergency room was swift. She quickly fetched the surgery consent form. Ji Yao changed places with the on-duty doctor from the Gastroenterology Department. He bent down and pushed Jiang Heng¡¯s shoulder, initiating the procedure of explaining the surgery risks to him.


    Having been through a night of discomfort, in pain and feeling nauseous, Jiang Heng was on the verge of passing out. Now, forcefully awakened by Ji Yao, he looked at him as if he were facing an emotionless, unfeeling character from a play.


    He reluctantly listened to the lengthy explanation of the surgery risks, then nodded with difficulty, signing his name on the consent form.


    Ji Yao took the papers from him and barely spared him a glance, turning to the head nurse and instructing her to take him away on a stretcher.


    As he watched Ji Yao¡¯s departing figure, Jiang Heng mentally crossed out the option of emotionless character from a play; it seemed more like a ruthless brothel madam who took the contract but then turned her back on you. Jiang Heng thought.


    He quickly realized that he had oddly cast himself in the role of a ¡°poor helpless fallen girl¡± in this sarcastic drama script. He found it quite amusing and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    When Ji Yao heard the sound, he turned his head and stared at Jiang Heng with an expression that seemed to say, ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± He then rolled his eyes discreetly, pushing down Jiang Heng¡¯s hands that were moving around.


    ¡°stay still, you¡¯ll be in less pain this way.¡± Ji Yao said in exasperation.

 CH 4

    After dealing with his reckless ex-boyfriend, Ji Yao¡¯s night shift was winding down.


    Ji Yao¡¯s professional ethics and psychological resilience were evidently commendable. He hadn¡¯t taken revenge on his exploitative ex-boyfriend, instead he had treated him and even arranged for a nurse from the hospital to help him find a caregiver.


    He hadn¡¯t slept all night. After the surgery, instead of returning to his office, he sat in the corridor for a while. The bright lights lit the shiny tiles, and staring at them for too long made his head spin.


    A nurse approached and asked if he felt unwell. Ji Yao shook his head and replied that he was fine. The nurse left without saying anything more.


    Ji Yao¡¯s index finger, which had been tending to the stitches, felt a bit itchy. He rubbed his fingertip and leaned back on the chair.


    During the emergency room visit, Ji Yao had initially thought that Jiang Heng was suffering from acute gastric bleeding due to excessive drinking. However, during the surgery, it became clear that he had been suffering from stomach problems for a while. It wasn¡¯t a minor ulcer, but it wasn¡¯t currently active. It seemed that Jiang Heng had been taking good care of himself for some time, but a reckless meal and too much drinking had pushed him back to a condition worse than before.


    However, Ji Yao distinctly remembered that when he had broken up with Jiang Heng, Jiang Heng had been in good health and had no such delicate issues.


    Ge Xing had mentioned some time back on the phone that Jiang Heng had gone abroad. Ji Yao wondered why he had suddenly left and how he had been doing these past few years.


    Lost in thought for a while, Ji Yao suddenly realized that he was trying to trace Jiang Heng¡¯s history. He clicked his tongue, shook his head, and cleared his mind of those thoughts.


    Lack of sleep really made one¡¯s mind wander, Ji Yao thought.


    He rested for a while longer and pondered the unfinished report about the intern doctors¡¯ training. Only when the concern about Jiang Heng was overshadowed by his worries about incomplete work did Ji Yao stand up refreshed. He walked with light steps to hand over his duties.


    After briefing his colleagues, just before leaving, driven by his professional ethics, Ji Yao checked Jiang Heng¡¯s room again. He saw that the hospital¡¯s nurse was already there, so he didn¡¯t enter and turned to leave.


    When Gao Jingyi arrived at the hospital the next evening, Jiang Heng was sitting on the bed with two thick pillows behind him. He had glasses on his nose, a stylus pen in his hand, and was occasionally scribbling on the screen.


    A nurse was crouched near the foot of the bed, adjusting the askew bedsheets.


    Gao Jingyi stood by the door with a fruit basket and knocked on the door.


    ¡°This is too formal,¡± Jiang Heng glanced at him and said with a smile, ¡°I can¡¯t eat the things in your basket now. You might as well give me cash directly.¡±


    ¡°Being too realistic is boring,¡± Gao Jingyi took the stylus pen from Jiang Heng¡¯s hand and complained, ¡°Rest up, model worker, the world won¡¯t stop spinning.¡±


    The nurse glanced at Gao Jingyi, picked up the transparent water bottle on the bedside table, and told Jiang Heng that she was going to fetch water before leaving them alone.


    Observing him for a moment, Gao Jingyi noticed that Jiang Heng looked okay and his complexion seemed fine. He felt relieved and put down his guard.


    ¡°Where did you find that nurse? She seems pretty capable.¡± Gao Jingyi said.


    ¡°She¡¯s a personal connection.¡± Jiang Heng replied.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Gao Jingyi was puzzled, ¡°A personal connection can be so efficient?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean her.¡± Jiang Heng closed his Pad and leaned back against the headboard, grinning, and pointed at himself, ¡°I meant I¡¯m the one with a personal connection.¡±


    Gao Jingyi: ¡°¡­¡±


    Jiang Heng smiled without saying anything more. He didn¡¯t intend to explain about Ji Yao. He casually placed his things on the bedside table and asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I called you earlier, but your phone was off. Then I called the front desk at the law firm and found out you were hospitalized,¡± Gao Jingyi said. ¡°You really are something. You don¡¯t even inform me about such a big matter. Even if I was out of town, wouldn¡¯t you just call my wife?¡±


    ¡°Give me a break,¡± Jiang Heng chuckled. ¡°You weren¡¯t home, and I can¡¯t just call your wife in the middle of the night. Can you imagine how weird that would be?¡±


    Gao Jingyi clicked his tongue, looking quite dissatisfied. He took a shallow breath and seemed about to start a lecture. Jiang Heng preemptively raised his hand to stop him and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Oh, right,¡± Gao Jingyi¡¯s intended output was interrupted before it even began. He quickly got distracted by Jiang Heng and said, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s nothing. Xiao Liu from the law firm had an accident. She fell into a maintenance well on her way home yesterday. She¡¯s not seriously hurt, but her leg is broken. You know, both you and her, having incidents back to back. What kind of luck is this? We should go to the City God Temple and pray sometime.¡±


    ¡°Did she report it as a work injury?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    ¡°She did, you can rest assured,¡± Gao Jingyi said. ¡°The HR department has also visited the hospital. I contacted you because she had just handed over a case to me. Now I need someone to take over. The rest of the law firm is too busy, and I¡¯m also dealing with matters at Li¡¯s Shenzhen branch. I wanted to ask if you were available, but seeing you like this, I guess that won¡¯t be possible.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°I¡¯m recovering well. I¡¯ll be discharged the day after tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother,¡± Gao Jingyi said. ¡°We¡¯re not that desperate yet. Don¡¯t make yourself work with an injury.¡±


    ¡°Zhang Lu specializes in criminal litigation, not to mention Wang Lu, who already has two cases on hand. One is a tort liability dispute, and the other is an inheritance dispute between legitimate and illegitimate children. Both are hectic. The latter even involves some embezzlement. It¡¯s a mess. With all this, he doesn¡¯t have the time.¡± Jiang Heng logically laid out the harsh reality in front of Gao Jingyi. Finally, he spread his hands and said, ¡°So, which of the us are you counting on?¡±


    Gao Jingyi¡¯s expression twisted as he was taken aback. He really didn¡¯t want to involve Jiang Heng, but he wouldn¡¯t have mentioned this case to him if he weren¡¯t in a tight spot. If they had just received the case, he could have withdrawn, but the case had already started its process, and backing out now would damage their reputation.


    ¡°Can you handle it?¡± Gao Jingyi frowned, genuinely concerned. ¡°Truly?¡±


    ¡°I can handle it,¡± Jiang Heng said confidently. ¡°What kind of case is it?¡±


    Gao Jingyi also knew that he couldn¡¯t pull Jiang Heng into this if it wasn¡¯t absolutely necessary. He hesitated for a moment and eventually gave in, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen the details yet, but it¡¯s a civil dispute. It shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. After you¡¯re discharged, I¡¯ll have the secretary send the materials to your office.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a hassle,¡± Jiang Heng chuckled. ¡°Why not have her send them to me now? I¡¯m just idling around anyway¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted as his phone in his pocket suddenly rang. He pulled it out and glanced at the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, and then silenced it.


    However, the persistent caller immediately hung up and the phone vibrated again. Gao Jingyi was interrupted twice in a row, which made him forget what he wanted to say.


    You should go if you¡¯re busy.¡± Jiang Heng looked at him with a somewhat unbearable expression, ¡°I¡¯m not missing any limbs, no need to stay here to observe me.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk.¡± Gao Jingyi scolded with a laugh, ¡°Are you sure you are not waiting for me to leave so you can work yourself to death¡ª?¡± Gao Jingyi said as he snatched the I pad and stylus pen from him.


    ¡°Okay fine, ¡°Jiang Heng sighed in resignation. ¡°Hurry up and leave.¡± he urged, ¡°How many times do I have to say it? Even my cleaning lady at home isn¡¯t as naggy as you.¡±


    Gao Jingyi took two steps back as if he was about to leave. However, he still wasn¡¯t at ease. He rambled on for a while, giving a couple of ¡°call me if you need anything¡± reminders. Seeing that Jiang Heng was almost getting up from the hospital bed to see him off, he finally collected his wits, turned around three times, and left.


    As he left, the nurse entered the room, carrying a water bottle. Jiang Heng wasn¡¯t sure whether the timing was spot on or if they had waited outside the door until he finished talking.


    With Gao Jingyi having taken his work tools, Jiang Heng suddenly felt somewhat idle. He held his phone, unlocked it and checked his emails and messages.


    It was his habit, but unexpectedly, when he opened the messaging app, he realized that the most recent SMS from his bank was from two days ago, and it was a bill from the bar he had treated others at.


    Jiang Heng was taken aback and stared at the message for a while. He pondered it for a moment and then pressed the lock button again. He opened his email and messages and looked around.


    He had been caught off guard by those few thoughts that rapidly flashed through his mind. Yet, he didn¡¯t show any emotions on his face. After a moment, he calmly turned off the screen, seemingly unbothered by it. He shifted the topic by asking casually, ¡°By the way, is Dr. Ji here?¡±


    The nurse put down the water bottle, thought for a moment, and said, ¡°Today is Dr. Ji¡¯s shift, but when I passed by his office earlier, I didn¡¯t see him. However, his computer was on at his workstation, so he should be here.¡±


    ¡°Where did he go, do you know?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± the nurse honestly shook her head, placed the water bottle on the bedside table, and asked, ¡°Are you looking for him? Should I go and find him for you?¡±


    Jiang Heng thought for a moment, shook his head, neither confirming nor denying anything. He simply asked, ¡°Can I go out now?¡±


    ¡°You can,¡± the nurse said, ¡°It¡¯s good to move around a bit after the surgery, it can prevent the wound from sticking.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Jiang Heng nodded, then changed the subject and said, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll go find him myself.¡±


    He held his phone in his hand, hesitated for a moment, then decided to put it back in his pocket. He exited his room and started walking down the corridor, heading in the direction of Ji Yao¡¯s office.

 CH 5

    At this very moment, Doctor Ji found himself caught in a dilemma in the stairwell.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, why do you suddenly want to break up with me?¡± A boy with a handsome face persisted in blocking Ji Yao¡¯s way, frowning and asking, ¡°We were perfectly fine together.¡±


    Ji Yao avoided his hand, took two steps back, and leaned against the windowsill of the stairwell, looking rather displeased.


    The stairwell was rarely used, and the landing had turned into a smoking area. Cigarette butts were densely pressed against the lid of the trash bin a few steps away, with tobacco oils seeping into the water, filling the corridor with a foul smell.


    Ji Yao had a slight touch of cleanliness obsession, and he felt uncomfortable in such an environment. However, the boy in front of him seemed not to notice his aversion. He took a step forward and continued questioning, ¡°Say something, please! You must say something!¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to say?¡± Ji Yao lowered his eyes and said calmly, ¡°We broke up a week ago. There¡¯s no ¡®doing fine.''¡±


    He had just come to work, barely warming the office chair, when his ¡°ex-boyfriend¡± from a week ago showed up at the door. Ji Yao had scoffed in his mind at the time, thinking that it was quite annoying.


    During that week, he had blocked at least six of the boy¡¯s numbers, ignored over thirty text messages, and countless friend requests on WeChat. The past couple of days had been relatively quiet, and Ji Yao thought the boy had given up. However, he hadn¡¯t expected him to come all the way to the hospital.


    He thought to himself that he shouldn¡¯t date university students anymore. They were too young to understand the dignity of adults.


    If it were Jiang Heng, he wouldn¡¯t be so persistent. He would have disappeared from Ji Yao¡¯s sight after the breakup, as if he had vanished into thin air.


    Ji Yao¡¯s thoughts drifted aimlessly for a moment, and he even compared these two individuals.


    After comparing them, he realized that he had been thinking about Jiang Heng quite a lot lately, more than usual. It didn¡¯t seem like a good sign.


    ¡°There should be a reason for a breakup.¡± The boy continued questioning, ¡°Breaking up out of nowhere, It¡¯s not fair at all.¡±


    ¡°My feelings for you faded. Breaking up is the best choice,¡± Ji Yao said lightly. ¡°We¡¯re both adults now. Nobody promised to spend their entire life tied to the other.¡±


    The boy seemed hurt by his words. He stood frozen in place, staring at Ji Yao disbelievingly, his eyes reddening.


    Ji Yao wasn¡¯t skilled at handling such situations. He awkwardly touched the back of his neck, instinctively trying to evade the topic.


    ¡°Alright, Xiaojin,¡± Ji Yao stepped forward and patted his shoulder, softening his tone, ¡°I haven¡¯t cheated on you nor have you done anything wrong to me. It¡¯s a normal breakup. Don¡¯t make it too ugly¡­ Well, you¡¯re great, it¡¯s not you, it¡¯s me. Can you feel a bit better if I put it that way?¡±


    If he didn¡¯t say anything, it would have been better. As soon as he spoke, the boy became even angrier. He pushed Ji Yao¡¯s hand away, glared at him indignantly, and exclaimed, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. Is it because I mentioned wanting to introduce you to my parents? I¡¯ve heard rumors about you. You¡¯re indecisive with everyone. Whoever wants to bring you home, you¡¯ll break up with them¡­ I didn¡¯t believe it at first, but now it seems I was blind.¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s arm felt numb from being pushed. He avoided his gaze, refraining from arguing.


    Seeing this, Xiaojin couldn¡¯t bear it and paced back and forth on the spot, unable to suppress his grievances. He pointed at Ji Yao and shouted, ¡°If you only wanted to mess around, you should have said so! I was blind to even think about spending my life with you!¡±


    He seemed heartbroken by Ji Yao¡¯s actions. He pushed Ji Yao away and angrily wiped his eyes before storming out through the partitioned door.


    Ji Yao was struck by the mention of ¡°spending a lifetime.¡± Without showing it on his face, he lowered his eyes and smoothed his wrinkled lab coat.


    This was the second person to mention ¡°a lifetime¡± to him, and both instances had ended the same way.


    Before Ji Yao could even think about this connection, he heard Xiaojin¡¯s footsteps suddenly stop outside the door.


    ¡°Who¡ªwho are you?¡±


    Ji Yao was taken aback.


    Someone outside had obviously said something, but the voice was too low. Through the steel partition door, Ji Yao couldn¡¯t hear it clearly, but he heard Xiaojin¡¯s angry voice clearly, ¡°Who told you I¡¯m a victim like you, you lunatic!¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    He seemed to know who was at the door.


    And indeed, in the next moment, the fire exit door was pushed open from the outside. A mobile IV stand rolled in first, sliding through the gap in the door and stopping in front of Ji Yao.


    Jiang Heng was wearing patient clothes. He struggled to stand upright due to his frail posture, so he leaned against the door frame, looking at Ji Yao with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite straight.


    Even when elites were hospitalized, they wouldn¡¯t look too great. The same applied to Jiang Heng. He looked pale, his forehead was slightly sweaty and disheveled, but he still had good spirits. His eyes were bright and his smile was charming, so he didn¡¯t appear depressed.


    Ji Yao had long known that Jiang Heng was good looking and attractive¡ªpeople were naturally shallow and conventional creatures, and without good looks, no matter how much someone claimed to be an ¡°expert of love,¡± they wouldn¡¯t have so many people rushing to them.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s gaze scanned Ji Yao from top to bottom in an easygoing manner. Eventually, he fixed his gaze on Ji Yao¡¯s left hand. His look carried a certain implication as it lingered on Ji Yao¡¯s empty ring finger for a couple of seconds before casually moving away.


    ¡°Cheating and casual relationships should be done more discreetly ,¡± Jiang Heng chuckled. ¡°At least don¡¯t let the person know your workplace and home address. Otherwise, it¡¯ll be troublesome if it blows up.¡±


    He seemed understanding, but his words, both directly and indirectly, were awkward to listen to.


    Ji Yao only pretended not to notice the sarcasm in his words, and he didn¡¯t want to engage in any more interactions with Jiang Heng. So, he didn¡¯t take the bait and just retrieved his phone, adding a bit of medical advice as a bonus.


    ¡°If you want to recover, use your brain less and sleep more,¡± Ji Yao said sincerely.

 CH 6

    With a calm and composed demeanor, he returned to his office. He had just sat down and hadn¡¯t even had a sip of water when the nurse on duty appeared at the door, leaning against the door frame. Her gaze swept into the room and stopped on him.


    ¡°Doctor Ji,¡± the nurse raised her eyebrows with a concerned look. She whispered, ¡°Director Hao is looking for you.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡­


    No need to ask, just by looking at this expression, he knew it wasn¡¯t good news.


    With a resigned sigh, he stood up from his chair, leaning on the office desk with one hand. He hooked his finger around the teacup on the table, poured the last sip of cold overnight water into his stomach.


    The ice-cold temperature traveled down his throat, dispersing through his veins as if spreading through his chest. The cold sensation made Ji Yao shiver, finally awakening his mind a bit.


    He pushed his office chair aside and walked out. The nurse on duty waited by the door frame until he approached before quietly saying, ¡°It¡¯s that family again, causing a scene. This time they brought a middle-aged woman with them, it seems like she¡¯s the real wife and mother¡­ Doctor Ji, be careful.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡­


    Ji Yao immediately had a headache.


    When things went wrong, they often seemed to trigger a chain reaction. Ji Yao belatedly realized that this time the ¡°Mercury retrograde¡± didn¡¯t seem to have much to do with the ¡®innocent¡¯ Jiang Heng¡ªpurely bad luck brought them together.


    About ten days ago, on a night shift, they received a case of a wealthy young man who crashed his sports car in an accident.


    The speed-obsessed car was as fragile as paper. Its front bumper remained intact, but a steel plate from the dashboard had folded and punctured his abdomen. The wealthy young man was rushed to the hospital by an ambulance past two in the morning. He was accompanied by a group of friends, all dressed flashy and bright, as if it were still midsummer, wearing torn and tattered stud-adorned T-shirts. They looked like they had been parachuted in from the other half of the world.


    Those friends left the patient at the hospital and disappeared in a hurry. Not a single one of them stayed behind. The emergency room was in chaos, and with Ji Yao¡¯s limited experience, he struggled to find a phone number labeled ¡°Father¡± on the patient¡¯s phone.


    However, it wasn¡¯t until the emergency treatment was completed that the patient¡¯s family finally arrived. A middle-aged man reeking of alcohol stumbled into the room, his high-end suit looking like a rag that had been hastily pulled from a table at some party. His mind was a mess, soaked in alcohol, and he could barely hold a conversation without swaying to the side.


    It was unclear whether he was overwhelmed by grief or still intoxicated. In any case, he couldn¡¯t string together a complete sentence.


    The woman who came with him seemed to be slightly older than him. She struggled to support him in her high heels, casting awkward smiles at the medical staff in the room.


    The patient¡¯s blood pressure continued to drop, and it was evident that he was failing to inhale enough air. Ji Yao hurried over, planning to perform surgery as soon as possible. He grabbed the family member and asked him to sign the surgical consent form. However, the middle-aged man, for some unknown reason, only cried, holding his face. He couldn¡¯t steady his trembling hand enough to sign the form, and between sobs, he kept saying, ¡°Save my son.¡± But he refused to put pen to paper.


    Unable to communicate with the man, Ji Yao had no choice but to give the consent form to the woman beside him.


    The woman hesitated at first, gripping the pen as if she wanted to say something but then bit her lip and signed without a word.


    Partly to blame was his own preconceived notion: he had a subconscious feeling that if the ¡°father¡± came to see the patient, the one with him was either the biological mother or the stepmother. He didn¡¯t bother to confirm further, and this neglect created a problem.


    If Ji Yao could foresee the future, if he knew how much trouble this wealthy young man would cause later, he wouldn¡¯t have rushed those few minutes at the time.


    This incident could be considered trivial or significant, depending on the outcome of the patient. But the problem was, the surgery was successful, yet the patient didn¡¯t survive. He struggled for over a day in the intensive care unit and finally passed away.


    It was during this time that they learned the truth: the person who had signed the consent form was not a legal family member of the patient¡ªshe was simply an affair of the middle-aged man, not even knowing if she was the second, third, or fourth mistress.


    Ji Yao was annoyed just thinking about it. He pinched the bridge of his nose and walked a few steps forward, then stepped back again. He said to the nurse, ¡°That thing you were supposed to give me last time¡­¡±


    The nurse responded with an ¡°oh,¡± pounded her palm, and said, ¡°The ¡®Water Retrograde Begone¡¯ wallpaper, right? Just wait, Doctor Ji. I¡¯ll go to the break room and get my phone to send it to you.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡­


    ¡°I told you before, Doctor Ji, your zodiac sign is in retrograde, but you didn¡¯t believe it,¡± the nurse continued chattering, ¡°That symbol is quite effective. There were over 30,000 reposts on Weibo. It¡¯s better to believe it than not.¡±


    Doctor Ji¡¯s headache grew, but when he thought of Director Hao on one side and Jiang Heng on the other, he suddenly felt that sometimes it might be worth trusting in the mystical.


    Just to find some psychological comfort, Ji Yao thought painfully.


    ¡°Oh, and they are now insisting that the woman wanted to take the position of the wife, so she deliberately signed the form to harm the patient,¡± the nurse said with concern, ¡°As for you, they suspect you had deliberate contact with her, making you an accomplice.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡­


    ¡°But don¡¯t worry, Doctor Ji!¡± The nurse puffed her chest out and made a fist-pumping gesture. ¡°Director Hao won¡¯t take these baseless accusations seriously. I believe in you!¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°I appreciate the organization¡¯s trust in me, but let¡¯s hold off on the verbal praise. I need to go to the battlefield first.¡±


    With that, Ji Yao straightened his clothes, then turned and went to find the director¡¯s office.


    Director Hao YU, as his name suggested, was a kind and gentle person. He was honest and kind-hearted, but his demeanor was too soft at times, which made it difficult for him to handle certain situations.


    When Ji Yao knocked on the door and entered, Director Hao was in the middle of a conversation with the ¡°aggrieved party.¡± Judging by his expression, the conversation was clearly not going smoothly.


    ¡°Director, you wanted to see me.¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s gaze swept over the guest sofa by the side, and he probably had an idea in his mind.


    That day, two women had come. The unfamiliar one was middle-aged, well-maintained, and adorned with jewelry, but her appearance was slightly haggard, and her swollen eyes and dark circles couldn¡¯t be concealed by makeup.


    The other woman, younger than the deceased wealthy young man by a few years, Ji Yao had seen before. She was the patient¡¯s sister.


    As for the patient¡¯s father, over the past few days, he hadn¡¯t shown up even once. Ji Yao didn¡¯t know whether he had run away or was hiding somewhere.


    ¡°This is our Doctor Ji,¡± Director Hao introduced him, attempting to mediate the situation. ¡°Actually, Mrs. Li, none of us wanted this kind of situation to happen. It really is just a¡ª¡±


    Before Director Hao could finish his sentence, Mrs. Li, Li Linghua, turned her body and stared at Ji Yao¡¯s face.


    ¡°You are the doctor who operated on him?¡± Li Linghua asked coldly.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Ji Yao confirmed.


    If it were possible, Ji Yao would prefer not to get into disputes with patients¡¯ family members, partly to avoid trouble and partly because the patient had indeed passed away. Out of humanitarianism, he didn¡¯t want to engage in conflict.


    ¡°I want to hold you criminally responsible!¡± Li Linghua pointed at his nose and accused, ¡°You must have colluded with that woman to harm Xiaowen!¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s expression instantly darkened.


    The sister of the wealthy young man had already come alone twice before, causing a ruckus each time and demanding a thorough investigation. It made it impossible for anyone to have peace.


    Ji Yao had thought that the patient¡¯s mother would be more reasonable, but he didn¡¯t expect her to be just as unreasonable.


    ¡°Mrs. Li, there¡¯s really nothing more to say about this issue,¡± Ji Yao had repeated these words numerous times. ¡°The entire resuscitation process was recorded, and you can review the medication records. As for the signature, your husband himself refused to cooperate and the form was signed by someone else.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, all the medical staff in the emergency room were present, and everyone can testify,¡± Ji Yao stated professionally. ¡°I am not responsible for any medical issues. Mr. Li¡¯s death was due to postoperative acute infection. You can request an autopsy.¡±


    ¡°And I haven¡¯t made any medical mistakes!¡± Ji Yao pushed back, his voice resolute. ¡°If anything, the responsibility lies with your son¡ªat the time, we confirmed with him multiple times if he had any history of allergies or special illnesses, and he repeatedly said no. We even asked him when he was conscious, and he still said no. He didn¡¯t report even when he knew he had AIDS, nearly causing trouble for all the medical staff in the room!¡±


    ¡°All lies!¡± Li Linghua said with determination, her voice firm. ¡°Your hospital is trying to shift the blame! It was your hospital¡¯s negligence¡ªfrom getting the signature from the wrong person to failing to treat a special patient accordingly. It¡¯s a severe medical incident!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t put it that way¡­¡± Director Hao tried to mediate, stepping forward to stand between Ji Yao and Li Linghua. He attempted to reason with her, ¡°The situation is that we identified and adjusted the treatment based on the test results, and we increased the level of monitoring. This can¡¯t be considered the cause of Mr. Li¡¯s death.¡±


    If it wasn¡¯t for Hao Yu holding her back, she might have even physically confronted Ji Yao.


    ¡°Regardless of whether indirect or direct a stranger signing the document was still the case of my son¡¯s death and i want the hospital to pay for this.¡±

 CH 7

    Li Linghua firmly accused that Li Wen¡¯s father had already explained the situation to Ji Yao at the time, and it was Ji Yao¡¯s own wrong decision that led to the surgery on Li Wen.


    Hao Yu wanted to help explain on behalf of Ji Yao, but with the emergency room busy at the time and surveillance cameras only capturing their images, there was no concrete evidence of what was actually said.


    Li Wen¡¯s father, Liu Jianhua, refused to show up, leaving Ji Yao unable to confront him face to face. Li Linghua also refused to listen to testimonies from other emergency room staff, insisting that they were colluding to protect each other and that she would hold Ji Yao responsible.


    Any discerning person could tell that Li Linghua was trying to find a scapegoat, but the fact remained that Li Wen had died, and her insistence on blaming Ji Yao complicated matters and made it difficult to resolve.


    Hao Yu was afraid that things might escalate, that the emotional turmoil of the patient¡¯s family might lead to adverse consequences. He wished they could just make a settlement, but unfortunately, Li Linghua was convinced that the signed consent form was evidence that Ji Yao and the woman were conspiring to harm her son. No matter how much Hao Yu tried to reason with her, she refused to accept the outcome of the accidental situation and insisted on pursuing Ji Yao¡¯s ¡°criminal responsibility.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see!¡± Li Linghua angrily left, leaving behind a threat, ¡°Either your hospital gives me an explanation, or we¡¯ll see you in court!¡±


    Hao Yu bid her farewell with kind words, and as soon as she left, he wiped off a layer of sweat.


    Ji Yao handed him a cup of tea in silence. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Director.¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me,¡± Hao Yu smiled wryly. ¡°After being in this field for so long, I know that there¡¯s at least one medical dispute like this every year¡ªsome patients¡¯ families just can¡¯t accept reality. Some might just throw a tantrum, while others can even set up mourning halls in the hospital lobby.¡±


    ¡°I understand that it¡¯s not your fault.¡± Hao Yu patted Ji Yao¡¯s shoulder and whispered, ¡°Although the signed consent form does indeed deviate from regulations, it¡¯s far from a medical accident. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°After all, it¡¯s hard to stay calm when a family member is involved. I can understand.¡±


    Hao Yu was afraid that Ji Yao, being a young person, might lose his temper and clash with the unreasonable family members, escalating the situation. Hearing Ji Yao¡¯s response, he felt a bit relieved.


    ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s hard for anyone to stay calm in such situations,¡± Hao Yu said diplomatically. ¡°However, when it comes to families with relatively good financial backgrounds and complicated family dynamics, it might be more difficult to handle. Ji, you need to be mentally prepared.¡±


    Ji Yao ran a hand through his hair and nodded.


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯re just preparing for the worst-case scenario. It might not necessarily come to that,¡± Hao Yu rubbed his hands together and said with a hint of difficulty, ¡°Rest assured, even if it does come to legal proceedings, our hospital has legal assistance available. Of course, if you have friends who are lawyers or trustworthy lawyers you know, you can also suggest them to the hospital.¡±


    Almost instinctively, Ji Yao¡¯s mind conjured up the face of Jiang Heng.


    Habits seemed to be quite fearsome¡ªJiang Heng had disappeared from his life for several years, but suddenly reappeared and managed to bypass all other options to become Ji Yao¡¯s subconscious go-to for help.


    His subconscious and reason clashed for an instant. He realized that so much time had passed and this ¡°request for assistance¡± had long expired.


    ¡°¡­No,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°I¡¯ll follow the hospital¡¯s guidance.¡±


    ¡°Alright then,¡± Hao Yu said. ¡°In that case, let me discuss this matter with the hospital¡¯s board of directors after this, and we¡¯ll decide how to handle it.¡±


    Ji Yao hadn¡¯t said anything yet, but it seemed like Hao Yu was afraid he might overthink things. He quickly added, ¡°Rest assured, we won¡¯t unjustly blame our own doctors.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back to work.¡±


    Hao Yu nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Perhaps due to mentioning Jiang Heng so frequently over the past few days, on his way back to the office, Ji Yao accidentally took a detour towards the ward.


    He didn¡¯t know what he intended to do¡ªneither did he want to ask Jiang Heng for help nor did he want to reminisce with him. It seemed like he just wanted to take a couple of steps in that direction.


    This is too embarrassing, Ji Yao thought.


    As of today, he couldn¡¯t accurately describe his feelings when facing Jiang Heng.


    He had to admit, Jiang Heng sometimes earned his admiration¡ªmaintaining an friendly relationship with an ex was a skill. A small misstep could lead to a disaster, though he himself wasn¡¯t eager to maintain any type friendship with his exes.


    Being with someone who had once been so close, who had experienced sweetness and arguments, who had seen you at your most vulnerable and vice versa¡ªtrying to revert to a ¡°friendship¡± after parting ways was impossible for Ji Yao.


    Because there were both genuine grievances from the breakup and genuine love.


    Jiang Heng was the ex who had spent the longest time with Ji Yao. Just as Jiang Heng¡¯s reputation as a romantic suggested, he had a knack for managing relationships. He knew when to be considerate, when to be quiet, and when to make his presence known. When they were together, it was easy to experience the comfort and ease of adult romance.


    In the three years they were together, they had only quarreled a handful of times. And even when they did, Jiang Heng would use different approaches to make up based on the reasons for their argument.


    Even if Ji Yao, known for being ¡°unreliable,¡± refused to admit it, he had to acknowledge that having someone like Jiang Heng around made it hard for anyone not to be attracted to him.


    Thankfully, after the breakup, Jiang Heng had disappeared without a trace, so Ji Yao hadn¡¯t intentionally thought about him much in the past three years.


    However, it seemed that Jiang Heng had an inherent ability to draw people¡¯s attention. Within just a few days of his reappearance, he had managed to rekindle Ji Yao¡¯s long-lost ¡°subconscious.¡±


    This isn¡¯t good, Ji Yao reflected seriously. It¡¯s a dangerous sign.


    Just like magnets attracting each other, Ji Yao had a feeling that the closer he got to Jiang Heng, the more that uncontrollable feeling would intensify.


    An ex should at least maintain a bit of dignity. Therefore, Ji Yao decided to keep his distance from him completely.


    Standing in front of Jiang Heng¡¯s ward, Ji Yao just intended to just take a look and leave. However, a sweep of his gaze revealed that Jiang Heng¡¯s bed was empty, and only a nurse was tidying up. The bed was neatly made, not like it was meant to be occupied.


    Ji Yao furrowed his brows and pressed down the doorknob as he entered.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the patient?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°Mr. Jiang signed a liability waiver with the nurse at the reception,¡± the nurse said.


    Ji Yao raised an eyebrow. ¡°¡­¡±


    Logical and prepared.


    Ji Yao lost his temper. On one hand, he was exhausted from dealing with unreasonable patient family members, and on the other hand, he had no interest in dealing with his reckless ex-boyfriend. After instructing the nurse not to discharge the patients without his consent anymore, he returned to his office to write up records.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s home was in a small, relatively new community near Jing¡¯an Temple, a 300-square-meter fully furnished duplex. He had moved in just two months ago and it already felt like he had lived there for twenty years. As he entered the community, the ride-share vehicle stopped at the entrance. Jiang Heng, wearing a slightly thick coat, walked in. He exchanged greetings with the security guard at the gate.


    ¡°Mr. Jiang, welcome back.¡±


    Jiang Heng bent slightly, protecting the wound on his tummy with his other hand, and smiled at the security guard, responding kindly, ¡°Yes, thank you for your hard work.¡±


    ¡°Not a problem at all,¡± the security guard smiled. ¡°One of the streetlights in the community was broken, and it was just repaired. Please be careful when you go in.¡±


    Jiang Heng nodded.


    He had only moved here two months ago, but it felt like he had lived here for twenty years. Everyone from the security guards at the gate to the staff at the delivery points and the old lady who brought her child to the community park every day could greet him by name.


    Jiang Heng returned each greeting with a smile. Finally, when he arrived home, his pockets were filled with throat relief sweets that the old lady had given him.


    He took off his coat at the entrance and hung it on the hook, then walked slowly to his bedroom, switching on the bedside lamp.


    He placed his wallet and cellphone from his pockets onto the bedside table and accidentally knocked an acrylic box off the table, causing it to fall to the ground and shatter into pieces.


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    At least it broke safely, Jiang Heng thought.


    He consoled himself, finding his own optimism quite amusing. He smiled wryly, carefully bent down, and began sifting through the wreckage of the acrylic box. He retrieved what was originally inside the box.


    It was an ordinary British pound coin, worth one pound. It was well-preserved and shone brightly.


    Jiang Heng used his thumb to rub the surface of the coin, making sure there were no scratches on it. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

 CH 8

    Jiang Heng saw Ji Yao for the first time at a ¡°welcome party.¡±


    At that time, he was still young, just finished the first semester of his second year of graduate school, with all his credits completed ahead of time. He had just left to intern in Beijing.


    Ge Xing knew that he intended to settle in Beijing in the future, so he excitedly gathered a group of people and organized a welcome party for Jiang Heng to warmly welcome him.


    On that day, all sorts of people came. Ge Xing, in order to liven things up, invited a bunch of friends from within the circle. Inside the club¡¯s suite, chaos reigned with wild dancing. Jiang Heng, amidst karaoke and lively singing, wearing a faint smile, moved through the hall as if he could strike up a conversation with anyone.


    ¡ªAnd it was at this moment that Ji Yao appeared.


    Jiang Heng, holding a glass of wine, had just left the dice game and turned his head to see a young man sitting at the end of a long sofa, sipping his drink.


    He was wearing a high-collared white sweater, sitting alone in the corner, looking very obedient and quiet.


    The dazzling and flamboyant neon lights avoided that corner, outlining a thin rainbow of light and shadow only next to him.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s gaze fell on him, and he paused with interest.


    Ji Yao was brought by a friend of a friend and had no direct connection to the host of this welcoming party. He didn¡¯t like these forced social gatherings, but his mood had been low these past few days, so he was dragged along anyway, claiming that it was to change his mood.


    However, he had no interest in the raucous dancing and had checked his watch three times that evening. Feeling bored yet not wanting to go home, he could only sip his drink absentmindedly and occasionally glance at the big screen, analyzing the out-of-sync music videos that had nothing to do with the songs.


    Perhaps Jiang Heng had stood still for too long. Ge Xing, slightly tipsy, came out of the crowd and approached him.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Ge Xing embraced Jiang Heng from behind and looked around with narrowed eyes, finally resting his gaze on Ji Yao.


    ¡°Mmm, well, do you find him attractive?¡± Ge Xing laughed ambiguously and slyly nudged Jiang Heng¡¯s waist with his arm. ¡°You actually like someone so well-behaved?¡±


    ¡°Well-behaved?¡± Jiang Heng chuckled with a strange tone. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s as innocent as he seems.¡±


    He had a clear view of it. Ji Yao might appear well-behaved in his attire, but his gaze wasn¡¯t that of a naive rabbit. Amidst the chaotic scenes, he stood alone yet didn¡¯t seem awkward or distant. Instead, there was a subtle air of composure and self-assuredness in his eyes.


    Jiang Heng handed his wine glass to Ge Xing and then leaned in, taking a bottle of beer from under the counter and expertly popping the cap open.


    ¡°I actually fell in love at first sight.¡± This is what Jiang Heng would always say later to Ji Yao.


    Ji Yao was half-skeptical about this statement. Occasionally, when he was in a good mood, he would ask, ¡°Is it really true?¡± Jiang Heng would just smile and not give a definite answer.


    So, Ji Yao habitually regarded this as one of the ¡°lines of love,¡± but Jiang Heng knew that at least half of that statement was true.


    ¡ªPerhaps even more so.


    Jiang Heng admitted that he was a commoner at heart and would be favorably inclined for a minute or two towards an appealing appearance that met his taste.


    His tastes were peculiar and picky, his standards high. He liked the pristine and beautiful like a ¡°straight guy,¡± but he wasn¡¯t interested in those as soft and super submissive.


    Ji Yao was the kind of appearance he liked very much¡ªhandsome yet not effeminate, with a touch of sharpness that was especially attractive in profile. The dim light fell on his face, outlining a slightly shaded contour along his profile.


    To be honest, Ji Yao wasn¡¯t what one would call a breathtaking beauty at first sight. But, coincidentally, that night he was wearing a watch with a leather strap. Due to his outing, his sweater sleeves had been pushed up a bit, revealing fair and slightly thin wrists.


    The deep brown leather band wrapped around his wrist seemed to inexplicably hit Jiang Heng¡¯s mark.


    The timing, the circumstances, and perhaps the play of light and atmosphere¡ªJiang Heng felt a slight shift, as if something had been gently plucked in an instant. No matter how he looked at it, he felt a sudden attraction.


    So he decided not to suppress himself.


    Jiang Heng casually unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt, shrugged off Ge Xing, and went alone with a bottle of beer towards that corner.


    Ji Yao, still engrossed in guessing the plot of a somewhat outdated music video, heard footsteps approaching from behind during a deafening gap in the rock music. He turned his head and saw a handsome stranger.


    ¡°Good evening.¡± Jiang Heng smiled, waving the beer bottle towards him. ¡°Alone?¡±


    Ji Yao raised an eyebrow at him, observing for a while before saying nonchalantly, ¡°Flirting with me won¡¯t work.¡±


    Jiang Heng chuckled and extended his arm, lightly tapping Ji Yao¡¯s glass with the beer bottle.


    ¡°No rush.¡± Jiang Heng smiled. ¡°we have all night.¡±


    Ji Yao squinted his eyes slightly, carefully scrutinizing him.


    Jiang Heng, nonchalantly, allowed his scrutiny, even taking a sip of his drink in Ji Yao¡¯s presence, glancing at the big screen following Ji Yao¡¯s previous gaze.


    The karaoke segment had transitioned into ¡°classic nostalgic old songs.¡± The loud rock music had finally quieted down, replaced by a mellower intro style. The pitch of the person singing was somewhat better than before, and against the backdrop of a popular song from twenty years ago, there was a touch of retro charm.


    Ji Yao wasn¡¯t in a good mood. He intended to drown his sorrows in alcohol that night. Before Jiang Heng arrived, he had already finished two glasses of brandy. His reactions were slightly sluggish at the moment.


    He seemed to weigh something in his mind and thought that Jiang Heng¡¯s looks and physique weren¡¯t too harsh on the eyes and he actually looked good. So, without saying anything, he silently consented to the other¡¯s intentional approach.


    ¡°Is beer good?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s not. I changed drinks to strike up a conversation, but I didn¡¯t expect it to taste so bad.¡± Jiang Heng handed the beer bottle over and smiled, ¡°Want to try?¡±


    ¡°Why did you change drinks to strike up a conversation?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°Because you look young,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°Young people might like something wild.¡±


    Ji Yao smiled ambiguously and then took the beer bottle from Jiang Heng¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Those under eighteen aren¡¯t allowed in the club,¡± Ji Yao responded lightly to his ¡°teasing,¡± and then paid his respects with a mock bow, saying, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡±


    Jiang Heng was momentarily taken aback, before he even processed how Ji Yao knew his name. Then he saw Ji Yao shaking the bottle and taking a sip at the bottle¡¯s mouth.


    He didn¡¯t use a glass, just drank straight from the bottle.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s eyes darkened a bit, and a hint of interest curved his lips.


    ¡°Alright, I was wrong.¡± Jiang Heng humbly accepted the accusation. ¡°What¡¯s your last name?¡±


    ¡°Ji,¡± Ji Yao absentmindedly drew a few strokes on the coffee table. ¡°Ji Yao.¡±


    ¡°Nice name,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°I have high expectations.¡±


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t respond to this praise. He took the bottle and sipped the beer again.


    Draft beer had a bitter taste, and he had no idea which brand the club had chosen. Amidst the bitterness was a residual tang of brewing, as Jiang Heng had aptly put it, it was quite ¡°awful.¡±


    Displeased with the taste, Ji Yao frowned slightly and turned the bottle, looking at the label on top, as if making a mental note to avoid it in the future.


    Jiang Heng was amused by his reaction and pulled over a fruit plate from the coffee table, handing Ji Yao a slice of cantaloupe to cleanse his palate.


    ¡°As expected,¡± Ji Yao furrowed his brow, staring at the label on the beer bottle. He gave an objective evaluation, ¡°They could go bankrupt with this.¡±


    Jiang Heng burst into laughter.


    ¡°I agree,¡± he said.


    The two of them exchanged a few words aimlessly, and Ge Xing, at one point joined in after having fun with the others for a while.


    ¡°What are you two talking about here?¡± Ge Xing grinned and said to Ji Yao, ¡°What¡¯s the point of being alone here? Come join the fun!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not much fun,¡± Jiang Heng said with a smirk. ¡°We¡¯ve already played poker, and I¡¯ve won almost every round. Winning too much isn¡¯t fun¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true.¡± Ge Xing seemed dissatisfied with this response. ¡°You¡¯ve just not met a worthy opponent.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t pay attention to Ge Xing¡¯s urging. He just shook the small dice cup at Ji Yao. ¡°How about a bet?¡±


    ¡°What kind of bet?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°Promise the other person to do something,¡± Jiang Heng suggested. ¡°It¡¯s clich¨¦, but it works.¡±


    Ji Yao raised an eyebrow, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He casually picked up an empty dice cup.


    They both shook the dice cups simultaneously, both stopped at the same time. Ge Xing, an outsider, seemed more excited than the gamblers, straining his neck and eagerly watching.


    ¡°Roll!¡± Ge Xing urged.


    Jiang Heng made a playful gesture and then opened the dice cup. Inside were three three fours.


    Ge Xing cheered, and Jiang Heng smiled, then Ji Yao also revealed his dice¡ªthree perfectly aligned sixes.


    ¡°You won,¡± Jiang Heng smiled. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Ji Yao raised an eyebrow unexpectedly and looked at him for a while, saying, ¡°Tell me a secret.¡±


    ¡°A secret?¡± Jiang Heng pretended to think for a moment and then smiled, ¡°I can¡¯t let others hear it.¡±


    He stood up, making a beckoning motion to Ji Yao. Pretending to get up, he took a sip from Ji Yao¡¯s glass, and then, amidst Ge Xing¡¯s protests, he rested a hand on Ji Yao¡¯s shoulder, bent down slightly, and whispered in his ear.


    ¡°Actually, this is the first time I¡¯ve pursued someone,¡± Jiang Heng said.

 CH 9

    Before getting to know Ji Yao, Jiang Heng had never actively pursued anyone.


    He was good-looking, had a good personality, came from a well-off family, and was generous in his actions. He was admired wherever he went. Moreover, in a circle where there were more wolves and people with questionable intentions, someone like Jiang Heng who knew how to care for people and never messed around was even rarer.


    At their age and with their sexual orientation, most of them lived for the moment and got drunk. In comparison, Jiang Heng¡¯s ¡°shelf life¡± was a bit shorter, but it wasn¡¯t a significant flaw. Many people didn¡¯t care.


    Jiang Heng had never lacked companions. Before meeting Ji Yao, he was always given the ¡°pre-packaged meal¡± that was delivered to his door.


    He would pick out strangers who seemed pleasing and interesting, then naturally accept their affection and develop a sweet relationship, only to separate when the interest faded.


    Pursuing someone was a strange experience for Jiang Heng. Fortunately, Ji Yao wasn¡¯t hard to pursue, although it wasn¡¯t entirely simple either.


    Jiang Heng had a keen sense of emotional perception. As long as he wanted to, he could subtly understand a stranger¡¯s likes and dislikes, and find the most comfortable way to get along with them in the span of an afternoon tea.


    Compared to Jiang Heng, Ji Yao seemed more resolute. His attitude and personality were consistent regardless of who he was facing. He acted according to his own preferences.


    Those who didn¡¯t accept his ways thought Ji Yao was proud, while those who did couldn¡¯t necessarily understand his personality. As a result, Ji Yao¡¯s reputation in the circle of friends was mixed, with both positive and negative opinions.


    But for Jiang Heng, as long as he followed Ji Yao¡¯s comfortable approach, the other person was easy to get along with.


    ¡ªMoreover, he had external assistance.


    Ge Xing was a seasoned matchmaker. He felt fine being single himself, yet he was eager to set up all his friends.


    After the welcoming party, Ge Xing keenly noticed that his old friend seemed to have a new target as soon as he arrived. So, like a busy bee, he enthusiastically navigated through his network of contacts centered around his friend circle, and in less than a week, he had gathered a bunch of information about Ji Yao.


    Jiang Heng looked at the PDF on his phone, somewhat speechless.


    ¡°A high-achieving student who completed a combined bachelor¡¯s, master¡¯s, and doctoral program at Concordia University.¡± Ge Xing leaned on the table across from him, pointing and tapping the screen of his phone, teasingly saying, ¡°He¡¯s a year younger than you, but started school a year later. He¡¯s still in the middle of his studies.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Jiang Heng replied sincerely, ¡°but I¡¯m planning to pursue him, not apply for him as a research student. I don¡¯t need to know his personal resume.¡±


    ¡°Know your enemy and you can fight a hundred battles better.¡± Ge Xing disagreed, saying, ¡°He comes from an academic family. His parents are university professors. His dad works at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and his mom teaches history. They¡¯re all intellectuals¡ªso you should cater to his interests.¡±


    Jiang Heng wasn¡¯t very interested in this kind of background check, so he bypassed Ge Xing and walked to the filing cabinet to refile an old file. He casually said, ¡°Sure, sure, got it. What else?¡±


    ¡°Also, according to my information, he hasn¡¯t had as many ex-boyfriends as you.¡± Ge Xing turned around and sat on his desk, shaking his head as he spoke, ¡°It seems he¡¯s been in only two or three relationships¡ªthough none of them lasted long. He probably doesn¡¯t have any lingering issues, so you can approach him without worries.¡±


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    He hadn¡¯t realized that Ge Xing had the potential to be a private detective.


    ¡°But your reputations are quite similar,¡± Ge Xing sighed, ¡°And someone asked me to remind you not to get too serious with him, that it¡¯s better not to develop real feelings.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Heng asked casually.


    ¡°He¡¯s never in a relationship for long. The reasons for his breakups are always mysterious, and no one knows when he might suddenly change his mind.¡± Ge Xing grinned mischievously, . ¡°I thought that¡¯s perfect, you two can use the same tactics against each other, sort of like a tit-for-tat situation.¡±


    Jiang Heng chuckled and said, ¡°Do you see me as some sort of dangerous criminal?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel threatened by you. Our preferences in partners are different anyway,¡± Ge Xing waved his hand casually, saying, ¡°I believe in polyamory, and that doesn¡¯t conflict with you.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°Polyamorous Detective Ge, do you need a fee for your investigation?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary,¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°If you two really get together, just remember to give me a red envelope.¡±


    Jiang Heng lightly smiled and took his suit jacket from the hanger, hung it over his arm, and grabbed his phone from the desk to check his new WeChat messages.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting off work,¡± Jiang Heng casually said.


    ¡°Getting off work so early? Let¡¯s go out and have fun.¡± Ge Xing bounced off his desk like an excited little bee. ¡°It¡¯s the weekend, and the horse stable over at the Dam has been expanded. Let¡¯s go for a couple of days.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± Jiang Heng tapped and typed on his phone¡¯s screen, replying to a new message, ¡°I¡¯ve made plans with Ji Yao.¡±


    Ge Xing fell silent for a moment, then asked humbly, ¡°So, you don¡¯t actually need me to play matchmaker, do you?¡±


    Jiang Heng pocketed his phone and turned to him, giving a friendly and pitying smile.


    Ge Xing: ¡°¡­¡±


    Jiang Heng had arranged to meet Ji Yao for dinner, but at the last moment, Ji Yao stood him up at the school gate. Ji Yao sent him a WeChat message, saying that he encountered a sudden issue and would probably have to cancel their plans for the evening.


    Jiang Heng parked his car in a spot where he could see the school gate and called Ji Yao, only to have the call rejected.


    This seemed like an unexpected act of standing someone up, and if it were Ge Xing, he¡¯d most likely have turned the car around and gone back by now, all while complaining to his buddies.


    However, Jiang Heng thought for a moment and decided to stay. He turned off the engine, sat in the car, and looked at the internship materials he would need for the week.


    He waited outside the school gate from 6:30 PM until almost 9:00 PM, finishing his entire work plan. Ji Yao¡¯s new message finally arrived after all this time.


    ¡°Sorry, my parents came over suddenly. I didn¡¯t know beforehand.¡±


    Jiang Heng was momentarily taken aback, sensing a certain tension in Ji Yao¡¯s words. He sent a message back, asking, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    There was no immediate reply, and it seemed like a message sent amidst a busy situation.


    Jiang Heng considered for a moment, put his phone away, and waited a bit longer until he saw several figures coming out from the school.


    Ji Yao followed behind a middle-aged couple. The atmosphere between them seemed tense, and there was no communication throughout. Ji Yao¡¯s hands were in his pockets, his head slightly lowered. He walked to the side of the road and hailed a taxi.


    Before getting into the car, the woman turned back and seemed to say something to Ji Yao. He nodded in silence, so the woman didn¡¯t say anything more and followed the middle-aged man into the taxi.


    Ji Yao watched the taxi leave the alleyway, then turned to go back. Just then, his phone in his pocket vibrated twice and then hung up on its own.


    Jiang Heng started the car, honked twice, and waited for Ji Yao to notice him.


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t recognize the car, and he had some guesses, but he thought it was unlikely. He hesitated in place for a moment before pulling out his phone and hesitantly walking over.


    When Ji Yao approached, Jiang Heng rolled down the passenger side window and turned to look at him with a smile.


    ¡°Do you have anything else to do?¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°If not, let¡¯s go. I¡¯m starving.¡±


    It seemed Ji Yao hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Heng to still be there after several hours, and he paused for a moment before reaching for the car door and getting in.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you left?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer your phone. I was worried something might have happened.¡± Jiang Heng brushed over this matter casually and handed him an unopened bottle of sparkling water, saying, ¡°Judging by your expression, it seems like you¡¯re not too happy?¡±


    ¡°My parents came to catch me in the act.¡± Ji Yao leaned back against the seat, emitting an exhausted sense of weariness, ¡°I don¡¯t know who¡¯s been gossiping to my parents, making them suspect my sexual orientation¡ªtoday, they came for a surprise inspection, wanting to see if I¡¯m really involved with some male fox spirit.¡±


    Jiang Heng was unfazed by this, speaking in a relaxed tone, knowingly asking, ¡°So, did you get beaten up?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Ji Yao took a sip of water, sarcastically smiling, ¡°I think they didn¡¯t fully believe it, just had some doubts. They feel it¡¯s better to believe than not. They came and didn¡¯t say it directly, but they implied it, saying they wanted to see if I¡¯ve been studying well lately. They went through my dorm room, looked at my phone, and found nothing, so they left.¡±

 CH 10

    Jiang Heng¡¯s family claimed to believe in independent education, which sounded nice, but in reality, it meant each person was on their own. Jiang Heng had been a boarding student since middle school, and he had smoothly grown up without ever experiencing his parents checking up on him.


    But he could probably understand the middle-aged couple¡¯s thoughts¡ªno matter who knew that their son was gay, it was probably hard to accept.


    Ge Xing had mentioned that Ji Yao¡¯s family had a scholarly background, and they might even be more concerned about sexual orientation issues.


    ¡°We people have to go through this kind of challenge.¡± Jiang Heng smiled and drove the car out of the parking space. He comforted casually, ¡°Some people keep things hidden well, conceal it for a lifetime, other people don¡¯t like to hide, so they cause a big scene, and in the end, either they never communicate again, or they compromise a little with each other. The outcomes aren¡¯t that different.¡±


    Ji Yao seemed tired; he reclined his seat a bit and looked out of the window.


    The warm light from the streetlamp cast a grid-like pattern on the car window, reflecting on him, feeling cool.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± Ji Yao said casually, ¡°Adults treat their children as possessions, trying to mold them into what they expect. If they turn out as expected, that¡¯s fine. But if they don¡¯t, they¡¯re quicker than anyone to turn their backs¡ªemotions, favors, everything becomes bargaining chips in a conflict. If things really escalate, the ultimate result depends on who is more willing to give up.¡±


    Jiang Heng glanced at him, somewhat surprised that Ji Yao had such a sharp insight.


    Ji Yao was from a good background and a complete family, and a growing environment without any significant flaws. Moreover, he was young, and even if it came to his sexual orientation, Jiang Heng found it hard to imagine that he would have any irreconcilable conflicts with his parents.


    But since he brought it up voluntarily, he must have wanted to talk about it, so Jiang Heng kindly provided a platform for him to continue.


    ¡°Do you have constant conflicts with your parents?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Ji Yao smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because we don¡¯t that I¡¯m saying these things.¡±


    Winter in Beijing was much colder than Shanghai. The warm air conditioning in the car quickly created a thin layer of mist on the windows.


    Ji Yao extended his hand and casually wrote a few strokes on the mist, forming a signature with the grace of a dragon and a snake. He asked casually, ¡°And you, which type are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the last type, I keep nothing hidden,¡± Jiang Heng narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°Nobody cares about me; I just speak my mind.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good too,¡± Ji Yao said.


    His tone was plain and indifferent, making it hard to tell if he was envious or not.


    ¡°Many things are like this,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°It¡¯s enough to keep up appearances. Some people are honest about it, while others are just hypocritical.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ji Yao shifted the topic and said, ¡°Do you know what my parents told me today?¡±


    Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow, puzzled, and shook his head.


    ¡°They heard rumors but didn¡¯t dare to ask me directly, so they indirectly criticized and implied things,¡± Ji Yao raised an eyebrow, smiling, ¡°So I spent the whole evening listening to analysis of cases involving AIDS transmission, financial scams, and even murder for same-sex relationships. It¡¯s as if being gay is an unpardonable crime, and I felt like I¡¯m on the brink of death.¡±


    Jiang Heng chuckled.


    ¡°Then rest assured,¡± Jiang Heng said, half-serious, half-joking, ¡°Breaking the law is a whole new level of crime, and I¡¯m a law-abiding citizen.¡±


    ¡°I very much hate being misjudged,¡± Ji Yao said.


    Jiang Heng hadn¡¯t fully grasped the situation when he heard a crisp sound. Ji Yao had unfastened his seatbelt.


    Coincidentally, they had just arrived at an intersection in Wangfujing, with the red light in front of them. The red brake lights formed a continuous line. Jiang Heng pressed the brake pedal steadily, and Ji Yao took advantage of the moment, leaning over and covering most of Jiang Heng¡¯s field of vision, lightly pinching his chin, and kissing him.


    Jiang Heng was momentarily surprised but soon relaxed his body, parting his lips to accept Ji Yao¡¯s advances.


    Ji Yao seemed to have eaten something sweet before coming. There was a faint aroma of tea between their lips. He was a skilled kisser, but his style carried an unexpected dominance. He hooked Jiang Heng¡¯s tongue, not allowing him to evade, and they passionately kissed through the duration of the red light in the confined space of the car.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s gaze drifted outside and he saw a taxi with a familiar license plate in front.


    As expected, he thought to himself. Do the old couple know that after they ¡°caught an affair,¡± their son was in the car behind kissing a man?


    He suddenly felt that Ji Yao was like a young cat, well-behaved and obedient in front of his owner, only daring to show his teeth and claws when his back was turned.


    Jiang Heng became intrigued by Ji Yao¡¯s controlled rebellion. His slightly cool fingers climbed along Ji Yao¡¯s waistline, but before he could touch anything, Ji Yao grabbed his wrist and pressed it against the seat.


    Jiang Heng chuckled softly, voluntarily moving back a bit, and affectionately kissed Ji Yao.


    ¡°Oops,¡± Jiang Heng said with a hint of distress, ¡°It seems like I really like you.¡±


    Ji Yao licked his lips, neither burying nor concealing his intentions, and indulged in the kiss. Perhaps he found the experience delightful. He hooked his lips and gave Jiang Heng a smile.


    ¡°The light¡¯s green,¡± Ji Yao said.


    Jiang Heng smiled, pressed the accelerator, and cut into the left turn lane, improvising their route away from the city center and toward an unknown destination.


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t ask where he was taking him. They drove past the taxi carrying the middle-aged couple at the intersection, heading in completely different directions. Watching the taillights of the other car disappearing, Ji Yao felt a sense of satisfaction.


    ¡°Did Ge Xing send you my information?¡± Jiang Heng suddenly said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ji Yao admitted openly, ¡°The information even includes the fact that you don¡¯t drink Pu-erh tea, and there¡¯s a whole chapter on your romantic history.¡±


    Jiang Heng knew that this would be the result, and he shook his head with a wry smile.


    He turned onto a side road, and Ji Yao looked out, realizing they had entered a narrow and twisted alley.


    In the dead of night, with no village or store nearby, Jiang Heng parked the car by the side of the road, away from the streetlights. He pulled the handbrake.


    Ji Yao realized what Jiang Heng had in mind and probably guessed his intentions. It was just that he seemed even more uninhibited than Ji Yao had imagined.


    ¡°Ge Xing told me that if I want to date you, I need to pique your interest,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°And when you lose interest, it¡¯ll be time to break up.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Jiang Heng smiled and admitted, ¡°Do you want to try piquing my interest?¡±


    Ji Yao was still thinking about the impromptu kiss from earlier. Jiang Heng was good-looking, and he was cooperative and understanding. Even though the kiss had been impulsive, Ji Yao didn¡¯t dislike it.


    Jiang Heng was still wearing his office attire, and his coat was on the back seat. He only had a thin shirt on him now, as the air conditioning was running strong, and he had undone two buttons.


    Ji Yao was a visual person, and there was a hint of an indescribable rebelliousness within him. Everyone said that Jiang Heng was difficult to deal with, yet Ji Yao found him quite appealing.


    Ji Yao slowly leaned over, kneeling on the car seat with one leg, and surrounded Jiang Heng with an embrace. He casually put down Jiang Heng¡¯s car seatback.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s gaze gradually deepened, and he discreetly moved back a bit.


    Ji Yao¡¯s aggressiveness was extremely strong. Taking advantage of Jiang Heng¡¯s evasive movement, he pressed forward, his knee pushing between Jiang Heng¡¯s legs.


    ¡°Do you think men can have a birdling complex?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Jiang Heng didn¡¯t mind being in an unsteady bottom position. He used one hand to support Ji Yao¡¯s waist and lightly rubbed his fingertips on Ji Yao¡¯s clothes a couple of times, ambiguously saying, ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°Well, if I have you, maybe your interest can last a while longer,¡± Ji Yao said.


    ¡°This is unexpected,¡± Jiang Heng smiled, ¡°You¡¯ve already started thinking about the long term.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Ji Yao choked a bit, realizing that in just a few sentences, he had been led around by Jiang Heng, completely selling himself off.


    Not for nothing is he a lawyer, Ji Yao thought. Both in words and between the lines, it¡¯s all traps.


    Using one¡¯s own weaknesses to counter the enemy¡¯s strengths was clearly not a wise move. Ji Yao didn¡¯t feel like wasting words with him, so he simply leaned down and kissed him.


    Jiang Heng let out a muffled laugh, stretched his arm to turn off the car, and the atmosphere lights inside the car instantly went dark, leaving only an ambiguous darkness.


    In the narrow and confined space, the atmosphere of ambiguity escalated rapidly. Ji Yao soon felt a thin layer of warm sweat forming on his back, sticking his rough sweater to his skin.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s icy fingertips had an even stronger presence in this warmth. His slender and agile fingers slipped along Ji Yao¡¯s clothes, barely touching his back, but it sent shivers down Ji Yao¡¯s spine.


    He was annoyed by this physiological response, and he grabbed Jiang Heng¡¯s wrist, pulling him out and exerting a bit more force, trapping him firmly in the car seat.


    Jiang Heng had been kissed until he was slightly short of breath, but he didn¡¯t resist. He enjoyed this hot and proactive behavior, as well as the excitement of the struggle, feeling that Ji Yao was more pleasing to the eye the more he looked.


    Ji Yao pressed Jiang Heng¡¯s wrist against the side of his face, and Jiang Heng moved his hand a little, slipping his fingertips between Ji Yao¡¯s fingers, forming a gesture of interlocking fingers.


    This gesture was overly intimate. The warmth of their palms and the sweat intertwined, and Ji Yao felt a bit uncomfortable. He wanted to move away but was pulled back by Jiang Heng, who wrapped an arm around his waist, holding him in place.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Heng¡¯s voice was muffled, his breath containing a hint of a pleasing smile, ¡°You can kiss me, but I can¡¯t touch you?¡±


    Jiang Heng had always thought that compatibility in an intimate relationship, whether it was harmonious or not, was a crucial factor in determining whether the relationship could last.


    First impressions were important, eye contact was important, personalities were, of course, important, but if intimacy felt awkward through a layer of membrane, whether it was fumbling or politely out of place, it would certainly not work.


    If pursuing Ji Yao had been a spontaneous decision, then at this moment, that interest had clearly reached its peak.


    Ji Yao probably had just come down from a practical class that day and didn¡¯t have any accessories on him. He wasn¡¯t even wearing a watch. Jiang Heng glanced at him from the corner of his eye and noticed that he had pushed up his sleeve, revealing his fair and slightly prominent wrist bone.


    His slender and fair fingers rested lightly on the backrest, and when Jiang Heng held his wrist, it created a visually appealing effect.


    Jiang Heng was aware of his own quirks, and now it seemed that this quirk was intensifying when it came to Ji Yao.


    ¡°Of course you can,¡± Ji Yao¡¯s gaze deepened, ¡°You have plenty of opportunities to touch me.¡±


    He also seemed to be moved, saying that while biting Jiang Heng¡¯s lip. His hand had already begun to wander upward on Jiang Heng¡¯s waist, pulling his shirt hem out from inside.


    Jiang Heng licked his slightly tingling lips, then suddenly used force, hugging Ji Yao closer to him.


    The driver¡¯s seat was extremely narrow, and it was difficult to maintain balance. Ji Yao¡¯s knee tilted, and he nearly fell into Jiang Heng¡¯s arms.


    Jiang Heng had been too indulgent earlier, to the point that Ji Yao thought they had reached some sort of agreement under the atmosphere and things would progress further. Now Jiang Heng suddenly made a move, indicating a suspicion of ¡°saying one thing and doing another.¡±


    Ji Yao dangerously squinted his eyes, and his fingers moved along Jiang Heng¡¯s waistline, lingering on his abdominal muscles.


    ¡°I also want something exciting,¡± Jiang Heng held his wrist, regretfully saying, ¡°Unfortunately, the car is rented. Leaving stains behind wouldn¡¯t be a good idea.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Should have said it earlier!


    Ji Yao now reasonably suspected that Jiang Heng¡¯s previous compliance had all been deliberate, purely because he had an exit strategy, which was why he had been so unrestrained.


    ¡°Deceiver,¡± Ji Yao gritted his teeth, ¡°How many people have you fooled with that mouth of yours?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, I never deceive people,¡± Jiang Heng curved his eyes, ¡°Only you caught up with me.¡±

 CH 11

    ¡°Jiang Heng doesn¡¯t quite match the description in the ¡°blind date profile,¡± Ji Yao thought.


    In Ge Xing¡¯s blind date profile, there were over ten pages of detailed PDFs about Jiang Heng, filled with images and text, captivating and varied. The information was mixed with a lot of subjective evaluations, making it difficult to guess Ge Xing¡¯s true intentions¡ªwhether he wanted to quickly promote his old friend or make Ji Yao give up.


    In Ji Yao¡¯s impression, those who were popular in social circles mostly fell into two categories: those who were passionate but shallow, and those who were deep but reserved.


    However, Jiang Heng seemed to not fit into either of these categories. He carried a shining ¡°record¡± with him, able to form a lineup of ex-boyfriends and suitors, yet he didn¡¯t exhibit the kind of irritating arrogance associated with such achievements. Even when admitting hidden motives, his words lacked the frivolous tone of mockery; instead, they sounded like sweet, indulgent jokes. He balanced his words perfectly, making people feel comfortable and close.


    Ji Yao¡¯s restless heart was inexplicably soothed by Jiang Heng, and upon careful consideration of his implied meaning, he even detected a subtle ¡°special¡± flavor within.


    He looked at Jiang Heng for a while with his eyes lowered, then leaned in again and kissed him.


    This kiss was entirely different from the fiery retaliatory act before. It was tender and gentle, as if they weren¡¯t acquaintances of just a few days with ambiguous intentions, but rather intimate confidants who had been together for years.


    ¡°You were saying,¡± Ji Yao mumbled vaguely, ¡°If you were out to deceive for money and lust, I wonder how many people you could fool.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Jiang Heng¡¯s fingers slid into Ji Yao¡¯s slightly sweaty hair, and he lazily drew out his words, ¡°You can¡¯t accuse me of that. I¡¯m a law-abiding citizen.¡±


    Ji Yao knew he was telling the truth¡ªGe Xing¡¯s information mentioned Jiang Heng¡¯s top-notch qualities on the second page: he never cheated or deceived, he liked what he liked, and if he didn¡¯t, he¡¯d part ways without stringing anyone along.


    Perhaps because he set a limit on how far ¡°limits¡± could be pushed, his reputation was actually quite good.


    Where should I even begin to argue, Ji Yao wondered.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s neatly ironed white shirt had been ruffled, his skin pressed against it glistening with a thin layer of sweat, mingling with a faint bitter aroma of moxa. It gave him an oddly enticing feeling.


    Ji Yao felt an itch in his heart as he watched, unable to resist reaching out and touching Jiang Heng¡¯s tense thigh.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t happen today, but maybe someday.¡± Ji Yao wasn¡¯t planning to let him off so easily, ¡°What excuse are you going to come up with then?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m a traditional man.¡± Jiang Heng seemed unaware that he was being toyed with, and said seriously, ¡°I think this kind of thing should be based on a deep mutual understanding¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Ji Yao narrowed his eyes, lightly interrupting his rambling, then pulled open Jiang Heng¡¯s collar and left a deep kiss mark on his neck.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care much about positions.¡± Jiang Heng¡¯s eyes curved, and he followed along, speaking honestly, ¡°If feelings reach that point, things will naturally work out.¡±


    Anyway, it was Jiang Heng who gave in first. Ji Yao felt a bit satisfied. He licked the kiss mark on Jiang Heng and finally moved away from him.


    Their intertwined hands hadn¡¯t separated yet; the slightly sweaty palms were sticking together, slightly slippery when gripped.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s hand tightened for a moment and then loosened, withdrawing his hand from Ji Yao¡¯s grasp before he could pull back, and he wiped the corner of his mouth.


    ¡°Spicy.¡± Jiang Heng lightly touched his slightly swollen lips, making a soft sound, ¡°Good thing tomorrow is the weekend.¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid of being seen?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°Of course, who wouldn¡¯t want to keep their treasures hidden?¡± Jiang Heng said.


    As he said this, his collar was still open, and the kiss mark on his neck was exposed to the air. Its color deepened quickly, making it particularly noticeable.


    Ji Yao¡¯s gaze lingered on it for a while, his lips curling into a satisfied smile. His ankles crossed, and he couldn¡¯t help but shake his legs twice.


    Jiang Heng saw his good mood and also felt quite content. He didn¡¯t mind Ji Yao¡¯s territorial behavior without permission. On the contrary, he found it rather interesting.


    Jiang Heng had never seen someone like Ji Yao, where two contrasting qualities of rebellion and submissiveness naturally blended in him. It was hard not to be intrigued.


    He inevitably felt something for Ji Yao, but he also remembered Ge Xing¡¯s ¡°advice.¡± He knew Ji Yao was the type to change faces without warning. Today could be all sweetness, but tomorrow he might turn away.


    However, fortunately, Ji Yao was also wary of him in the same way.


    They were like walking on a tightrope over a cliff, both drawn to each other¡¯s charm, simultaneously cautious yet indulging in the dangerous thrill. It was a matter of who would lose control and fall first.


    Jiang Heng unfastened his seatbelt, straightened his crumpled white shirt, and adjusted the buttons reluctantly. Then he reached for his coat from the back seat and put it on.


    ¡°Going out?¡± Ji Yao unexpectedly looked outside and realized there was nothing besides the several trendy stores from before¡ªtwo of them had even closed down, leaving only a drab-looking storefront not far away that was still lit.


    ¡°Wait for me in the car.¡± Jiang Heng said.


    Saying that, he opened the door and got out of the car. Ji Yao propped up his head, watching him walk a few steps quickly and enter the dimly lit store about ten meters away.


    The store wasn¡¯t large, and the width of the main entrance was just a little over a meter. Squished in a crooked alley, it looked a bit pitiful.


    Warm yellow light spilled from the clear glass door, illuminating a small handwritten blackboard outside. Ji Yao squinted at it for a while and found that it displayed the weather forecast, that day¡¯s special vegetables, and a horoscope guide, a quirky combination.


    ¡ªWhat kind of store is this? Ji Yao wondered, confused.


    He waited in the car for three to five minutes before Jiang Heng came out of the store.


    He was holding a paper box slightly larger than a palm, and Ji Yao couldn¡¯t tell what was inside, but it was tied with a ribbon and looked quite exquisite.


    Jiang Heng got back in the car, started the engine, turned up the air conditioning, and then turned on the light. He casually placed the small box in Ji Yao¡¯s lap.


    Ji Yao was puzzled and asked to confirm, ¡°For me?¡±


    ¡°Both of us.¡± Jiang Heng smiled and said, ¡°You can have half.¡±


    Saying that, he leaned over and opened the ribbon on the box, revealing a delicate logo-printed box inside.


    ¡°I really enjoyed our first kiss.¡± Jiang Heng pointed to the corner of his lips and said with a smile, ¡°So, I¡¯m rewarding you with a small secret.¡±


    Saying that, he lifted the lid of the paper box, and only then did Ji Yao notice that there was a small, round strawberry cake inside.


    ¡°Today is my birthday.¡± Jiang Heng said.


    Ji Yao was taken aback.


    He instinctively wanted to ask Jiang Heng why he didn¡¯t mention it earlier, but as the words were about to come out, he remembered that Jiang Heng had originally planned to take him to Wangfujing for hot pot, but for some reason, he changed his mind and came here instead.


    ¡ªIn other words, he wasn¡¯t planning to tell him about it.


    Considering this, Ji Yao finally realized that Ge Xing¡¯s exhaustive ¡°blind date profile¡± indeed didn¡¯t include Jiang Heng¡¯s birthday.


    It¡¯s quite unusual, Ji Yao thought, given that the profile even mentioned trivial matters like Jiang Heng¡¯s dislike for truffles and avocados.


    Jiang Heng seemed to sense what he was thinking and explained in advance, ¡°I don¡¯t celebrate my birthday with others, so they don¡¯t know.¡±


    He started to open the box with the attached fork, scooped out a spoonful of cake firmly, and brought it to Ji Yao¡¯s lips.


    Ji Yao opened his mouth and instinctively accepted it. The rich strawberry sauce flavor instantly spread in his mouth, slightly sour.


    He swallowed the first bite of the birthday boy¡¯s cake and then remembered to ask, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because I usually don¡¯t feel very happy on my birthday.¡± Jiang Heng said.


    He took a bite of cream himself, seemingly quite satisfied, and followed up with another bite.


    Ji Yao looked at Jiang Heng¡¯s side profile, just inches away, and felt a bit puzzled.


    If he enjoyed this day, there was no reason for him to hide his birthday; if he disliked it, he wouldn¡¯t have gotten himself a birthday cake.


    ¡°Then why tell me?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°No reason.¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°Maybe because I¡¯m quite happy right now.¡±


    Saying this, he wiped his lips with a strawberry and then playfully rubbed it against Ji Yao¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Does being happy need a reason?¡± Jiang Heng retorted.


    Seemed like it really didn¡¯t, Ji Yao thought.


    Ji Yao began to faintly understand why so many people were willing to choose such risky individuals.


    When he looked at you, his gaze was focused and gentle, reflecting a bit of dim light. The smile at the corner of his mouth carried an unwitting hint of happiness. One unit of affection could express tenfold, as if he had waited through a thousand journeys just for you.


    Stopping before going over the cliff, turning back, both were exhilarating and brought a sense of accomplishment. Once you tasted the sweetness, it was hard not to be moved.


    So Ji Yao lowered his head instinctively, bit into the strawberry, and shared it with Jiang Heng.

 CH 12

    On Jiang Heng¡¯s twenty-fourth birthday, he shared his birthday with Ji Yao for the first time in the history of his birthdays.


    When he ordered the cake, he clearly didn¡¯t expect to be in such a good mood. He chose a very small size, so the entire birthday cake was gone in no time.


    Reluctantly, Jiang Heng had to resort to his backup plan. He drove Ji Yao back to Wangfujing and got some hotpot for a late-night snack before finally dropping him off at school.


    That birthday cake seemed to have melted away some kind of distance between them. Ji Yao unbuckled his seatbelt as he was about to leave and made a playful comment, ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t be sending me back to school tonight.¡±


    ¡°No rush,¡± Jiang Heng replied with his usual line. ¡°We still have more opportunities.¡±


    Ji Yao shrugged nonchalantly, took a couple of steps away, then turned back. He saw Jiang Heng¡¯s car still parked in place, so after a brief thought, he walked back and tapped on the car window.


    The window lowered quickly, revealing Jiang Heng¡¯s face.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    Now approaching midnight, the road outside the school gate was deserted. Ji Yao raised his hand to shield himself under the roof of the car, lowered his head, and swiftly planted a kiss on Jiang Heng¡¯s lips.


    ¡°The birthday cake was really delicious,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Order one for me in two weeks.¡±


    Jiang Heng blinked.


    ¡°With mango flavor,¡± Ji Yao added.


    Jiang Heng quickly realized the implication behind these words and curved his eyes into a smile.


    ¡°Make it a bigger cake too,¡± Ji Yao said, patting his shoulder. ¡°Happy birthday.¡±


    With that, Ji Yao straightened up, took something out of his coat pocket, tossed it into the car, waved, and turned to leave.


    Jiang Heng watched him enter the school gate before opening the makeshift gift box in his hand.


    The gift box was palm-sized, obviously bought hastily. The receipt had been taken away, but the small slip was still inside. Jiang Heng lifted the lid and found a pair of sapphire cufflinks.


    Jiang Heng recalled that during dinner earlier, Ji Yao had left for about fifteen minutes. At the time, he thought Ji Yao had probably just stepped out to pick a call. Now, thinking back, it seemed Ji Yao had gone to buy this gift.


    Jiang Heng suddenly smiled, feeling quite pleased, and promptly attached the cufflinks to his shirt.


    The winter night breeze brushed against the thin branches of the roadside trees. Car headlights flickered across the road and soon disappeared into the flow of traffic at the intersection.


    Ji Yao wrapped his coat tightly around himself and walked slowly back to the dormitory against the cold wind. He touched the corner of his lips and faintly sensed a lingering warmth there.


    How had things developed into this? Ji Yao couldn¡¯t help but wonder.


    When he kissed Jiang Heng at the traffic light, he had been driven by a sense of revenge. He was annoyed by his parents¡¯ need to control everything about him, and he felt wronged. So, he wanted to cement the deed and get back at them¡ªhe found Jiang Heng rather pleasing to the eye, so he simply accepted him, nothing more.


    He had impulsively kissed Jiang Heng, intending to just engage in a passionate affair. However, he suddenly changed his mind, maybe because the strawberry cake tasted too good.


    He realized he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to determine anything so hastily. Let things develop naturally, he thought. Let it happen naturally. With Jiang Heng, someone he considered interesting, being too impatient would indeed be a waste.


    So during the meal, he didn¡¯t bring up the topic of their relationship. They both seemed to have silently accepted a certain level of intimacy between them, yet neither of them took the initiative to cross that line.


    It only takes twenty-one days to form a habit. By the time Jiang Heng realized that their unspoken, ambiguous closeness had exceeded what he used to consider the ¡°honeymoon phase,¡± Ji Yao¡¯s chat box had been pinned to the top of his WeChat for a while.


    They didn¡¯t meet too frequently, nor too rarely¡ªonce or twice a week when busy, and two or three times when not. But no matter what, every month there were one or two private and intimate events that they would plan together.


    ¡°Ji Yao is quite impressive,¡± Ge xing¡¯s voice came through the earpiece with a slightly hungover nasal tone. ¡°This is simply the urban romance version of One Thousand and One Nights. Finding shared goals that create anticipation from time to time, stretching out the timeline, it¡¯s brilliant.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jiang Heng stood in front of his wardrobe, organizing his clothes. He neatly folded his thick coat and jacket into dust proof bags, then took out a slightly thinner shirt and coat, shook them out, and hung them in the wardrobe. ¡°I feel the same way.¡±


    ¡°Ge xing¡­¡±


    On the other end of the phone, there was an unusual two-second silence. After a while, Gexing¡¯s voice came out somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Your reaction¡­ Why do I feel like you two are fishing for each other?¡±


    Jiang Heng chuckled, ¡°Really? Don¡¯t think of me as that aggressive.¡±


    ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t get anything out of asking you.¡± Ge xing grumbled on the other end of the phone and turned the phone in a displeased direction. ¡°So, are you going out tomorrow to have fun? Bluebar is having its grand opening, and they¡¯ve invited an awesome underground band for the celebration.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t make it.¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°I have plans.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised¡± Ge xing complained, ¡°I just called Ji Yao, and he also said he¡¯s not available¡ªdon¡¯t tell me you two have plans together again? You just met last week.¡±


    Jiang Heng adjusted his slightly askew Bluetooth earpiece and couldn¡¯t help but smile at Ge xing¡¯s words.


    ¡°you ask even when you know the answer?¡± Jiang Heng said.


    ¡°you two are hanging out so much, make some time for your friends as well, will you?¡± Ge xing exclaimed, ¡°Are you really serious about him?¡±


    Jiang Heng said, rather lightly, ¡°In matters of love, breaking up when there¡¯s no emotional connection is better for everyone, and if there¡¯s a connection, of course we should continue and develop it further. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll turn into a pumpkin prince if our relationship lasts more than a month.¡±


    He slipped around like an eel, unable to give a straightforward answer. Ge xing, an experienced matchmaker, was driven to scratch his head in frustration. He wished he could dive into their phones and witness in real-time how far their relationship had developed.


    ¡°Anyway, you wait!¡± Ge xing grumbled displeasedly, ¡°I need to speak to you about this in person.¡±


    When Ge xing said he¡¯d do something, he usually followed through. He hung up the phone immediately and appeared at Jiang Heng¡¯s doorstep exactly twenty minutes later, banging loudly on his door.


    Jiang Heng was amazed by Ge xing¡¯s efficiency, ¡°How did you get here so fast?¡±


    Ge xing, not minding any formality, pulled Jiang Heng aside, rushed into the house, chugged down a glass of water, and then collapsed onto the couch like he had just come back to life. He asked in a breathless tone, ¡°Spill the beans. Tell me everything.¡±


    ¡°Tell you what?¡± Jiang Heng said with a wry smile, walking over with his phone, ¡°Are you here to demand a red envelope from me? Come on, tell me the amount¡ª¡±


    Ge xing ignored his playful tone and said solemnly, ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Do you two really have that intention? If not, clear up the space quickly. Don¡¯t lead each other on, don¡¯t half-date. Give the numerous single zeros out there a chance, there are plenty of people in line, holding love¡¯s number cards.¡±


    ¡°I sometimes can¡¯t understand you,¡± Jiang Heng said sincerely, ¡°You were matchmaking us when I was single, and now that we¡¯re together, you¡¯re encouraging a second spring. What are you aiming for?¡±


    ¡°See, you admitted it. Isn¡¯t that what I wanted?¡± Ge xing said, ¡°Besides, both of you are interested. Just settle down sooner. Why enjoy the perks of being single and play around?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Jiang Heng poured Ge xing another glass of water, ¡°It¡¯s not like eating fast food. Once you¡¯re full, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t quite explain why, but he instinctively enjoyed this comfortable feeling. The ambiguous and unspoken intimacy wasn¡¯t fading with time; instead, it was becoming more subtle due to the accumulation of shared experiences and mingling social circles.


    Like Ge xing, most friends in their circle had heard rumors about the two of them, so whenever they mentioned one, they¡¯d naturally bring up the other.


    This default sense of intimacy made Jiang Heng feel refreshed, and because it was Ji Yao, he didn¡¯t mind.


    ¡°I do admire him,¡± Ge xing said with emotion, ¡°How did he manage to reel you in? He could even teach a class on it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m pretty easy to please,¡± Jiang Heng leaned against the bedroom door, smiling.


    Ge xing clearly didn¡¯t believe this nonsense and rolled his eyes at him unceremoniously.


    ¡°But since you¡¯re here, I don¡¯t have to tell you separately,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°Don¡¯t look for me next week; I already have plans.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Ge xing finally noticed the open suitcase on the bedroom floor behind Jiang Heng and said in an irritated tone, ¡°Are you two eloping or something?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve finished my thesis, and it¡¯s a perfect time as Ji Yao has a vacation. So, we¡¯re planning to travel around Japan for a bit,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°Seven days and six nights. You probably won¡¯t be able to find us.¡±


    The pleasure of the ambiguous phase was indeed intoxicating, but like a bowstring, no matter how elastic it was, it couldn¡¯t stay stretched forever.


    Lately, Jiang Heng had been vaguely sensing Ji Yao¡¯s attitude, and he felt it was about time to move forward.


    Ge xing admiringly gave him a thumbs up, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this at all, you¡¯re indeed serious this time. Getting into a relationship and even planning a trip to continue your love affair.¡±


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±

 CH 13

    In Hokkaido, March was still lingering in winter, and the travelers who had arrived happened to encounter a light snowfall.


    Ji Yao was wrapped in a thin jacket, sitting beside the station, holding a thin travel brochure and examining it closely.


    The travel brochure for tourists was printed with various vibrant colors. Famous attractions were highlighted with exaggerated outlines, making them clear even to those who didn¡¯t understand Japanese.


    Snowflakes were still drifting in the air. Ji Yao pulled his collar up, took out a short pencil from his pocket, and made a few marks on the brochure before flipping the page to read the travel tips on the back.


    After a while, footsteps approached from behind. The soft snow was compacted underfoot, emitting a squeaking sound.


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t turn around, still engrossed in studying the thin brochure. A moment later, a hand reached out from behind him, quietly gripping the handle of the luggage beside him.


    Ji Yao¡¯s gaze flickered slightly. He lightly tapped the hand with the brochure and before he could say anything, he felt something warm press against the other side of his face.


    Ji Yao turned around and realized that Jiang Heng was holding a bottle of warm coffee.


    ¡°Young man, are you here for sightseeing?¡± Jiang Heng bent slightly, gesturing with a welcoming hand motion and smiled, ¡°Do you need a guide? I can offer my services. I¡¯m quite familiar with the tourist sites, and I know some hotels where you can stay.¡±


    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Ji Yao tilted his head, sizing him up, then seriously shook his head and shifted to make room for another person to sit, saying, ¡°My wife doesn¡¯t let me talk to strangers.¡±


    Jiang Heng chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling as he leaned closer, and pressed a vague kiss against the corner of Ji Yao¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Is your wife that strict?¡± Without waiting for Ji Yao¡¯s answer, Jiang Heng dismantled this little act himself, ¡°Taking advantage of my absence?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so childish,¡± Ji Yao pushed him away a bit, ¡°Even elementary school students don¡¯t play ¡®Guess Who I Am¡¯ anymore.¡±


    ¡°Just teasing you.¡± Jiang Heng handed the hot coffee he had bought to Ji Yao and naturally took the brochure from Ji Yao¡¯s hand, glancing over it briefly, ¡°Any places you¡¯d like to visit?¡±


    The warm sensation dispelled the coldness from the snow. Ji Yao exhaled a warm breath, alternately pressing his palm and the back of his hand against the coffee cup, using the plastic bottle, which was about the size of his palm, as a hand warmer.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°They all seem similar.¡±


    Jiang Heng had done some research before coming here. Upon hearing Ji Yao¡¯s response, he suggested, ¡°How about visiting Hokkaido Shrine this afternoon?¡±


    ¡°Why would I pay respects to a Japanese deity?¡± Ji Yao asked bemusedly, ¡°It¡¯s not like they¡¯ll bless me.¡±


    ¡°Then how about making chocolate?¡± Jiang Heng offered an alternative, his good-natured personality shining through.


    Ji Yao¡¯s dissatisfaction with this activity was even more evident now. He imagined two grown men in a chocolate workshop, turning finished chocolate into sauce and pouring it into molds. He felt like it was a waste of life and was close to writing ¡®cheesy¡¯ on his face.


    He expressed his resistance without a fuss, and Jiang Heng wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He casually pocketed the brochure, reclaimed Ji Yao¡¯s pencil from between his fingers, and walked around him.


    ¡°Never mind,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°Let¡¯s put away our luggage and go have lunch.¡±


    It was still only 11:30 in the morning, and they had plenty of time. Jiang Heng wasn¡¯t fixated on checking off tourist spots. They were here to relax, and as long as they enjoyed themselves, it didn¡¯t matter where they went.


    This suggestion seemed much more ¡°normal.¡± Ji Yao stood up, shook off the snow from his shoes, and only then realized what had happened.


    ¡°Why did you buy only one coffee?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    Jiang Heng went around him, grabbed the handle of the luggage, and held Ji Yao¡¯s hand with his other. He slipped it into his pocket.


    ¡°Because I had no hands available,¡± Jiang Heng said confidently as they continued walking side by side.


    Ji Yao realized that he was astounded by Jiang Heng¡¯s enigmatic connections. It seemed like no matter what he wanted to do, he could develop a useful network of friends from all corners of the world.


    He didn¡¯t know which friend¡¯s connection had led to them booking a completely exclusive hot spring inn that wasn¡¯t open to the public. The inn was located remotely, with a simple exterior that resembled architectural styles of the previous century.


    The inn didn¡¯t even have a signboard outside. It was only upon entering that they discovered the hidden gem within.


    The interior courtyard featured a well-arranged dry landscape garden, and as they entered, a strong floral scent reached them. The air was humid and warm, with rising steam filling the surroundings. Ji Yao exhaled, feeling as though he had stepped from winter into spring.


    The innkeeper, a woman nearing fifty, despite her age, retained traces of the beauty she once had, which added to her charm.


    She approached, greeted Jiang Heng and Ji Yao with a smile, and they responded politely.


    ¡°We reserved the East Garden room,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    The innkeeper nodded knowingly and gestured to a young lad who helped carry their luggage inside.


    Ji Yao¡¯s Japanese was beginner level, with a vocabulary that barely extended beyond basic conversational phrases. Unfortunately, the innkeeper spoke with an accent and at a rapid pace, turning her words into a series of unfamiliar sounds. Ji Yao found himself solving an auditory puzzle, attempting to make sense of her speech by fitting in the known words. Jiang Heng, on the other hand, had no difficulty with this mode of communication, so they didn¡¯t need to resort to gestures and guesswork to check in successfully.


    The innkeeper briefly introduced the arrangements and escorted Jiang Heng and Ji Yao to their reserved room. Afterward, she smiled, bowed, and closed their room door.


    ¡°There are eight rooms in total, and they are all fully booked,¡± Jiang Heng thoughtfully translated, ¡°So, at 8:30 tonight, there will be a performance in the main hall. If you¡¯re interested, you can join.¡±


    ¡°What kind of performance?¡± Ji Yao inquired.


    Jiang Heng clearly knew the answer, but he didn¡¯t reveal it outright. Instead, he winked at Ji Yao with a playful smile, ¡°It¡¯s a traditional folk performance.¡±


    As they spoke, someone knocked on the door again. Jiang Heng opened it and found the same young lad who had taken their luggage earlier.


    He held two ticket-like slips of paper, similar to flower petals, which he handed to Jiang Heng.


    ¡°These are your identity passes,¡± the boy¡¯s English was evidently not very fluent, and he stumbled a bit while addressing them, ¡°Use these passes to attend the evening banquet.¡±


    ¡°Alright, thank you,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    Outside the East Courtyard, there was an open bamboo grove. Due to the current season, the bamboo looked somewhat yellow and desolate, with thin layers of fallen leaves covering the ground, yet to be cleared.


    The hot spring was hidden deep within the bamboo grove, its rising mist creating a picturesque scene against the cold air.


    The temperature inside the room was much warmer than outside, and a light layer of sweat covered Ji Yao¡¯s body. After rushing off the plane and spending the morning in the cold, he felt lazy and didn¡¯t feel like moving at all. He simply hung his coat nearby and planned to have lunch in this guesthouse.


    Jiang Heng finished arranging the luggage and then realized Ji Yao was missing. He looked around the room, feeling puzzled, and finally found Ji Yao in the room near the courtyard.


    Ji Yao had taken off his coat and was wearing only a light khaki turtleneck sweater. He stood by the door, gazing at the bamboo grove outside.


    Jiang Heng walked over, affectionately wrapping his arms around Ji Yao¡¯s waist from behind and resting his chin in the crook of Ji Yao¡¯s neck.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking at the hot spring,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°It¡¯s quite relaxing to watch, and it¡¯s a good way to make up for the sleep I lost while rushing on assignments last week.¡±


    Jiang Heng smiled in a slightly muffled manner, his laughter seemed to be contained within his chest, and Ji Yao could clearly feel the vibrations in his chest.


    ¡°We have plenty of time,¡± Jiang Heng nuzzled Ji Yao¡¯s earlobe, lightly nibbling on it and murmuring, ¡°If you like it, you can stay here for the next seven days.¡±


    Ji Yao let out a soft sound, a tingling sensation spreading through half of his body. His earlobes were sensitive, and they would turn red when touched lightly. Jiang Heng found it cute and couldn¡¯t help but lick them.


    Ji Yao wriggled out of his embrace and turned to face him, matching his posture.


    Jiang Heng licked his lips, lowered his head in this posture, and kissed Ji Yao.


    He held Ji Yao¡¯s hand, intertwined their fingers, and pressed Ji Yao¡¯s wrist against the door.


    Ji Yao quickly responded ¨C they were both adults, well aware of what this trip meant, and being coy didn¡¯t seem necessary now.


    As the kiss ended, Jiang Heng playfully pinched Ji Yao¡¯s knuckles and rubbed his forehead against Ji Yao¡¯s.


    ¡°Jiang Heng,¡± Ji Yao suddenly spoke.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Ge Xing called me earlier, asking when I¡¯ll start my classes,¡± Ji Yao said.


    ¡°He¡¯s got too much free time,¡± Jiang Heng quipped, ¡°He might be from the CIA¡¯s Gossip Division, don¡¯t mind him.¡±


    ¡°I actually wanted to ask too,¡± Ji Yao reached out to touch Jiang Heng¡¯s face: ¡°What do you like about me?¡±


    ¡°Do I need reasons to like someone?¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°If I¡¯m happy being with them, and it¡¯s comfortable ¨C it¡¯s that simple.¡±


    Ji Yao blinked, looking at him with a smile that seemed to say more than words.


    They faced each other for a moment, and Jiang Heng was the first to give in. He smiled and kissed Ji Yao again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to share you with others, I want to have you all to myself, to see the side of you that others can¡¯t see. The more time we spend together, the more I want to know about you,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°When novelty is no longer my top consideration, that¡¯s when it¡¯s love.¡±


    Jiang Heng was quite straightforward in this regard. He never concealed his feelings and didn¡¯t think admitting that he liked someone was embarrassing. He said what he felt.


    Ji Yao¡¯s gaze softened, and he leaned his forehead against Jiang Heng¡¯s with a smile.


    ¡°Then what do you like about me?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    ¡°I like that you¡¯re safe,¡± Ji Yao answered quickly.


    Jiang Heng laughed immediately, ¡°No one has ever described me using that word.¡±


    ¡°Just know that you¡¯re great,¡± Ji Yao patted his shoulder where the melted snow had wetted it, and softly said, ¡°keep being this way, and I¡¯ll keep on liking you.¡±

 CH 14

    The season was dark early, and after having lunch, Ji Yao took a nap in the guesthouse. He only left with Jiang Heng after three o¡¯clock, and it wasn¡¯t long before it got dark.


    This season marked the end of winter tourism in Hokkaido. As night approached, the lanterns glowed dimly, complemented by the distant neon lights, creating a feeling of walking on the boundary between eras.


    Both sides of the street were filled with colorful stalls. Ji Yao slowed down and picked up a small red fox mask keychain from one of the stalls.


    ¡°Do you like this?¡± The stall owner asked enthusiastically.


    ¡°How much is it?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°Nine hundred and fifty yen,¡± the stall owner replied.


    It was slightly more expensive than the souvenirs in the small shops, but since this area was full of tourists, the price was reasonable.


    The narrow eyes of the red fox were slightly squinted, revealing a smile, giving it a somewhat shrine-like appearance. Ji Yao lightly tapped the fox mask under the light and noticed that the inner part of the mask was made of a hollow texture. When placed under the light, the warm yellow lantern glow would shine through the mask¡¯s eyes, creating an illusion of being stared at, in conjunction with the craftsmanship and shadow contours.


    After looking at it for a while, Ji Yao took out his wallet and bought the keychain.


    ¡°How come you bought this?¡±


    When Ji Yao turned around, he realized that Jiang Heng had somehow come up behind him, peering at the keychain in his hand.


    ¡°How did you get here so fast?¡± Ji Yao was somewhat surprised.


    It was still the tail end of the tourist season, and there were still quite a few people on the street. Ji Yao remembered that the line in front of the takoyaki stall should be quite long.


    ¡°There was a kind person in the front who helped me save a spot,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    Ji Yao looked at him admiringly, picked up a takoyaki with a toothpick, and made a motion as if he was going to feed it to Jiang Heng. Jiang Heng tilted his head slightly and dodged it.


    ¡°A snack for the little kid,¡± Jiang Heng said, handing Ji Yao a paper box.


    ¡°But you¡¯re only one year older than me,¡± Ji Yao said.


    ¡°But I¡¯m already working, and you¡¯re still in school,¡± Jiang Heng smiled with his eyes narrowed, ¡°There¡¯s a huge difference.¡±


    Ji Yao couldn¡¯t argue with that, so he raised his hand and flicked the keychain at Jiang Heng¡¯s face.


    Well, quite similar, Ji Yao thought, both have a fox-like smiling expression.


    The lantern light from the stall shone on Jiang Heng, casting a thin orange-red hue on his beige coat. His eyes, filled with a smiling expression, reflected a halo, making him appear somewhat dewy.


    Ji Yao would always get lost in his focused and gentle gaze¡ªJiang Heng had given him a love experience he had never encountered before. His affection was as deep as the sea, seemingly endless. Ji Yao didn¡¯t know how much emotion was hidden in those eyes, but he still couldn¡¯t help but feel greedy, wanting to receive more attention from those eyes.


    ¡°This is for you,¡± Ji Yao hooked the keychain with his fingertip and handed it to Jiang Heng, saying, ¡°It looks quite similar to you.¡±


    ¡°So, this is how you see me in your mind?¡± Jiang Heng laughed as he took the keychain, imitating Ji Yao¡¯s action and swaying it under the light.


    Ji Yao held a takoyaki in his hand, blinked, and watched Jiang Heng attach the fox mask to the keychain.


    The freshly cooked takoyaki was hot on the inside, and Ji Yao made a slight hiss. The next moment, a cool straw was placed against his lips.


    Ji Yao bit down on the straw and realized that it contained cool blueberry juice.


    The cold juice quickly dispelled the burning sensation, and Ji Yao¡¯s heart fluttered. He turned his head to look at Jiang Heng by his side.


    ¡°Do you ever have moments of being unrestrained?¡± Ji Yao sighed.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°I¡¯m not a saint.¡±


    He said it with a matter-of-fact tone, but Ji Yao¡¯s expression clearly showed his disbelief. Jiang Heng seemed like a robot programmed to handle every situation. They had been together for three months, and Ji Yao hadn¡¯t seen him flustered even once.


    ¡°Many things are not as difficult as people make them to be,¡± Jiang Heng held Ji Yao¡¯s idle hand and said, ¡°I just put my heart into it.¡±


    When he said this, his expression was still relaxed, and the tone of his voice slightly uplifted at the end, as if he had just said an ordinary thing.


    Ji Yao looked at his profile, feeling as if something had lightly plucked at his heartstrings, creating a tingling sensation.


    The crowd on the tourist street grew larger as they walked, becoming increasingly crowded. Gradually, they were surrounded by tourists, and Ji Yao briefly let go of certain constraints, allowing himself to kiss, hug, and share a bottle of blueberry juice with Jiang Heng without any psychological pressure.


    Ji Yao bit into the last takoyaki, momentarily freeing himself from some form of restraint. He stared at the hand he was shaking with Jiang Heng, and when the next crowd surged forward, he didn¡¯t let go.


    As they continued to explore the tourist street, the crowd grew denser. Eventually, it became almost impossible to see due to the long lines in front of popular stalls.


    Jiang Heng led Ji Yao to stroll around a bit more, then looked at his watch and said, ¡°It¡¯s almost eight o¡¯clock.¡±


    Compared to the tourist gathering, the inn¡¯s performance seemed to be more interesting. Their inn was not far from the tourist street, and walking back would be just in time for the performance.


    Private inns offered a high degree of privacy. In the darkness, from the outside, there was almost no sign of business. However, inside the lobby, candles flickered, and young attendants stood in every corner, ready to assist guests with their belongings.


    The arrangement of the lobby had subtly changed since they had left earlier in the day. The lobby was now partitioned with screens into eight separate areas, each containing varying numbers of tables. In the center of the space stood a half-meter-tall old-style lantern, the brightest source of light in the room.


    There were no overhead lights in the lobby, only the gentle flickering of old candles and the fragrance of incense. Ji Yao was led by an attendant to a separate space in the East Garden Room, curiously scanning the surroundings.


    Inside each private space were different occupants, some came alone, and others came as couples. The private spaces were very secluded, and due to the distance and lighting conditions, it was difficult to see the faces of the occupants in other rooms.


    Ji Yao and Jiang Heng were the last batch of guests to return, and shortly after they were seated, the wooden door on the opposite side of the hall was pushed open.


    Immediately afterward, about ten women dressed in kimonos entered from outside the door, their heads lowered as they walked quietly to different private spaces, kneeling on the ground and bowing.


    ¡°Geisha?¡± Ji Yao was somewhat surprised. ¡°Aren¡¯t they only in Tokyo and Kyoto?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a private place,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°It¡¯s not that surprising.¡±


    Under the dim candlelight, the long and fair necks of the women were exposed elegantly, creating exquisite lines. The number of geisha seemed to be distributed according to the number of guests. The geisha next to Ji Yao looked quite young, but there were already fine lines at the corners of her eyes. She appeared to be in her early thirties, with delicate features. She wore a light-colored kimono with peony patterns, and the butterflies on the sleeve fluttered as she moved, vividly lifelike under the candlelight.


    The exaggerated makeup appeared just right under the candlelight, and Ji Yao¡¯s gaze lingered on the butterfly pattern on the woman¡¯s sleeve, unable to help looking twice.


    ¡°Is it beautiful?¡± Jiang Heng suddenly asked.


    It was indeed rare to see such well-crafted kimonos outside. Therefore, Ji Yao didn¡¯t conceal it, saying, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t say anything more, smiling slightly and sitting back in his seat, taking a sip of his drink.


    In order to better appreciate the performance, even though they were in a private space, the two dining tables were quite far apart.


    It wasn¡¯t a good distance for whispering secrets, so Ji Yao momentarily diverted his attention and focused on the performance in front of him.


    The woman in the center of the open space was elegant and proud, with golden lines shimmering on her kimono under the candlelight. She strummed an unfamiliar melody, and Ji Yao narrowed his eyes slightly, listening intently.


    This was his first time seeing such a performance, and he was curious about everything. Jiang Heng tilted his head, smilingly gazing at Ji Yao¡¯s bright eyes, feeling that this trip was worthwhile.


    After more than half of the performance, the woman in the center of the open space smiled and invited the guests to come up for some harmless little games. She probably selected people based on their appearances, and the first person she chose was Jiang Heng.


    Jiang Heng smiled, then glanced at Ji Yao.


    Ji Yao raised his cup towards him and smiled back in response.


    ¡°You two have a good relationship,¡± the woman beside Ji Yao said softly. ¡°Are you very good friends?¡±


    Ji Yao rested his chin on his hand and looked at Jiang Heng¡¯s retreating figure. He chuckled softly and said, ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend.¡±


    He said it as if he was afraid his Japanese proficiency wasn¡¯t good enough and wanted to clarify, ¡°Like, a romantic partner.¡±


    In reality, this statement wasn¡¯t entirely accurate because, up until this moment, the two of them hadn¡¯t officially defined their romantic relationship. But Ji Yao said it like that anyway, and he didn¡¯t feel it was wrong.


    Izumi smiled and nodded, indicating that she could tell.


    ¡°He really likes you,¡± Izumi said. ¡°While others were watching the performance, his attention was always on you.¡±


    Ji Yao hadn¡¯t noticed that. He thought for a moment and then said, ¡°That¡¯s just his habit.¡±


    ¡°Getting someone¡¯s attention is rare,¡± Izumi said. ¡°It¡¯s a precious feeling.¡±


    Ji Yao lowered his gaze, chuckled lightly, and said, ¡°Indeed, our relationship is quite good.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± Izumi said. ¡°Although Mr. Jiang looks quite fragile.¡±


    Ji Yao blinked, thinking that he might have misheard due to his limited Japanese proficiency.


    ¡°You mean him?¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Fragile?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he looks like someone who needs care,¡± Izumi nodded with a smile, respectfully and softly refilling Ji Yao¡¯s cup, ¡°But you also seem quite helpless.¡±


    The subtle and gentle words seemed to touch a chord within Ji Yao¡¯s heart. He fell silent for a couple of seconds, then drank the wine in his cup.


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°I have eyes,¡± Izumi pointed at herself and said softly, ¡°I can see¡ªI¡¯ve seen many guests before and all types of relationships.¡±


    On the stage, Jiang Heng finished a small game with the geisha and then politely declined further invitations. He turned his head towards Ji Yao, making a phone gesture with his hand, indicating that he had something to do and would leave the hall first.


    The performance was over, and Ji Yao didn¡¯t intend to participate in the subsequent gaming activities. However, he inexplicably didn¡¯t leave with Jiang Heng.


    Perhaps it was because they were in a foreign land, facing a stranger with whom they would never cross paths again. Ji Yao¡¯s heart wavered suddenly, and he felt a desire to confide.


    ¡°You know, if something is destined to have a certain outcome, should you still go through with it?¡± Ji Yao spoke slowly. ¡°There¡¯s something, you know it starts with a spectacular and sweet beginning, but as time goes on, it turns bitter, dull, even resentful and painful. In that case, should you even start?¡±


    Izumi looked at Ji Yao with gentle eyes and softly said, ¡°Why not?¡±


    Ji Yao was taken aback and didn¡¯t quite catch the meaning of her rhetorical question.


    ¡°Several months from now, there will be a fireworks festival,¡± Izumi said. ¡°The fireworks are dazzling, but the moment is fleeting¡ªyet even so, all over Japan, no one cancels the festival just because the fireworks will cool and fade away.¡±


    ¡°So, you think one should give it a try?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°At least you¡¯ve seen the brilliance of the fireworks,¡± Izumi said.


    Ji Yao had to admit that he was swayed by Izumi¡¯s words. Perhaps he had needed someone like her for a while, someone to push him at the right moment.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Our conversation tonight has been pleasant.¡±


    With that, he finished his drink, placed the cup back in Izumi¡¯s hand, and then stood up from the floor.


    Izumi understood that he intended to leave. She put down her cup and knelt on the floor to bow to him.


    ¡°I hope that next time you come to Japan, you¡¯ll be able to catch the fireworks festival,¡± Izumi said.


    Ji Yao nodded and then left the hall through a side door.


    He didn¡¯t find Jiang Heng¡¯s trace outside, and after asking the attendant, he found out that Jiang Heng had already returned to the room.


    However, the East Garden was quiet, without any lights. Ji Yao hesitated as he walked in, thinking about finding his phone to call Jiang Heng.


    During the banquet, no recording devices were allowed, and his phone was left in the bedroom.


    But as soon as Ji Yao entered the living room, he felt a rush of mist hit his face. The side door connecting to the bamboo garden had been opened by Jiang Heng. The courtyard was dotted with a few lanterns, and the steam from the hot spring drifted into the room, mingling with a slight cool breeze that gave Ji Yao goosebumps.


    Immediately after, his shoulder felt a weight, blocking his view.


    ¡°Don¡¯t play around,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°I have something to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡± Jiang Heng turned him around to face himself, embracing Ji Yao¡¯s waist. He released the hand that had been blocking Ji Yao¡¯s vision and looked at him with a half-smile, as if jokingly, ¡°Are you finally going to admit that you like me so much it¡¯s unbearable, and you want to give us a proper status?¡±


    Ji Yao suddenly laughed and said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Jiang Heng was taken aback for a moment, but quickly, he pressed his forehead against Ji Yao¡¯s and chuckled in a muffled voice.


    ¡°What a coincidence,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°I was thinking the same.¡±


    Saying that, he pushed Ji Yao¡¯s shoulders, turning him around completely.


    Only then did Ji Yao see, not far away on the floor, a neatly folded kimono¡ªvivid in color, a deep red akin to palace walls, embroidered with delicate patterns of iris flowers. Because it was folded neatly, it was hard to tell whether it was designed for men or women.


    Soon after, Ji Yao¡¯s shoulder felt a weight again as Jiang Heng affectionately encircled him from behind, spreading his palm to reveal a coin inside.


    ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet,¡± Jiang Heng nibbled on Ji Yao¡¯s earlobe and said with a smile, ¡°If you win, I¡¯ll put it on for you to see; if you lose, you put it on instead.¡±

 CH 15

    The  bet finally ended with Jiang Heng¡¯s victory.


    Six years ago, Ji Yao had been assertive, but fortunately, he was young and true to his word. Although somewhat unwilling, he ultimately accepted some form of fate in the conducive atmosphere.


    The coin confirmed their relationship but mysteriously disappeared the next day. However, Jiang Heng didn¡¯t pay much attention at the time, thinking he had simply misplaced it somewhere.


    It wasn¡¯t until much later that the coin inexplicably fell out of his wardrobe, and he had since kept it almost unconsciously.


    From Beijing to London, and then from London back to Shanghai.


    ¡°What am I doing?¡± Jiang Heng suddenly thought.


    He rubbed the cold coin in his hand, sat quietly for a while, then smiled with an indistinct meaning. He leaned forward, opened a drawer, and put the coin inside.


    Metal collided with wood, emitting an extremely light sound. Jiang Heng sat at the edge of the bed, hunched over, and suddenly felt quite uninterested.


    Perhaps it was that feeling of vulnerability that comes with being sick that made Jiang Heng perceive the house as larger than he had ever felt before, to the point that it seemed somewhat empty.


    Empty to the extent that whenever he settled down, the room seemed lifeless.


    The house where Jiang Heng stayed was a second-hand property, and he had returned not too long ago. He hadn¡¯t yet found the time to properly organize his personal space, so the decoration of the house remained as it was from ten years ago.


    High-tech furniture systems had yet to take over the house; The only thing that could work without Jiang Heng having to operate it manually was a robotic vacuum cleaner.


    Outside, the sky had already darkened completely. The sole source of light inside the room was the dim bedside lamp. Jiang Heng glanced outside through the wide-open bedroom door, only to see a pitch-black expanse of night and the faint outlines of furniture in the darkness.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t like this extremely quiet darkness. He wanted to get up and turn on the lights, but the wound tugged at him, causing a sharp pain. He sat by the edge of the bed, pondering for a while, and finally decided to let it go.


    After sitting by the bed for a while, he slowly stood up, changed into his pajamas, and pulled the covers over himself.


    As he lay down, he realized he had forgotten to turn off the bedside lamp. However, after assessing the distance and his physical condition, he abandoned the idea of getting up again.


    Jiang Heng wasn¡¯t used to unfamiliar and open sleeping environments. During his days in the hospital, his rest time was divided into different durations, and he would wake up three or four times a night. His spirit was already fatigued beyond his designated threshold.


    Despite feeling extremely tired, he lay with his eyes closed for a while, yet sleep didn¡¯t come.


    The soft glow of the bedside lamp emitted a warm hue, creating an illusion of warmth due to its color.


    Jiang Heng opened his eyes and vaguely recalled the paper lantern adorned with floral patterns at the hot spring inn in Hokkaido.


    Two similar visual sensations intertwined into the same image in his memory. Jiang Heng extended his hand as if to shield himself from something, causing the shallow halo of light to gently fall through his fingers and into his eyes.


    After a moment, this peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered by the abrupt ringing of his cellphone. Jiang Heng¡¯s phone, placed on the nightstand, began to vibrate, pulling him back into the cacophony of everyday life.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re back in the country?¡± The voice on the other end was surprised: ¡°You didn¡¯t even tell me in advance!¡±


    ¡°Ge Xing?¡± Jiang Heng moved the screen away unexpectedly and looked at the caller ID: ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°Ji Yao told me.¡± Ge Xing leaned against the balcony, biting his cigarette, and mumbled indistinctly: ¡°He told me a few days ago that you¡¯re in Shanghai. That¡¯s how I found out. Is your phone not working for the past couple of days? Dodging debt, huh?¡±


    Jiang Heng¡¯s attention was focused by the familiar name. Then, he heard Ge Xing laugh.


    Jiang Heng joked, ¡°Just got out of the hospital. Still smelling like disinfectant.¡±


    Ge Xing on the other end of the line said, ¡°You¡¯re okay, right? Is it serious? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Jiang Heng¡¯s tone was relaxed, ¡°I¡¯m okay all thanks to a skilled and kind-hearted doctor who saved my life in time.¡±


    Ge Xing didn¡¯t think much and casually said, ¡°You better give that doctor a medal or something.¡±


    Jiang Heng propped himself up on the bedside, responding appropriately.


    A series of voices echoed from the other end of the phone. Faintly, one could hear Ge Xing¡¯s name being called. Jiang Heng glanced at the time and realized it was the start of Ge Xing¡¯s nightclub revelry time.


    Over the past two years, they hadn¡¯t been in contact much. Their busy lives created gaps in their conversations. Jiang Heng was about to smoothly wrap up this conversation when Ge Xing beat him to it.


    ¡°Why did you leave so hastily back then¡­¡± Ge Xing paused, seeming to take a drag from his cigarette before continuing, ¡°Why did you run off like that?¡±


    This question caught Jiang Heng off guard. It was as if a needle had punctured the blankness of the past few years. Jiang Heng relaxed a bit, feeling as if the atmosphere of this phone call had returned to how it used to be a few years ago.


    He licked his lips, not quite sure how to respond.


    ¡°No real reason.¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°I had some free time and wanted to further my studies, so I considered it a chance to relax.¡±


    Ge Xing chuckled, as if mocking his insincerity.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have much to say about it.¡± Ge Xing sat on the balcony railing, squinting as he flicked the cigarette butt away. He watched the spark trace an arc in midair before landing in the villa¡¯s swimming pool, extinguishing itself.


    ¡°Just wanted to let you know, I also gave your number to Ji Yao.¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°He asked me a few days ago, so I casually told him about your current situation.¡±


    This gossip bureau chief, Jiang Heng thought.


    From what Jiang Heng could tell, Ge Xing didn¡¯t know that the ¡°skilled and kind-hearted¡± doctor was actually Ji Yao himself. Ge Xing seemed to think that they hadn¡¯t encountered each other.


    However, Jiang Heng was surprised that Ji Yao asked about him. He had thought Ji Yao would avoid any contact with him, wishing to never cross paths again.


    And also¡­


    ¡°After all these years, I still don¡¯t understand.¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°You can play matchmaker all you want, but you even manage post-breakup matters. Does your matchmaking agency also offer after-sales service?¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± Ge Xing¡¯s voice sounded ethereal, ¡°I just want to prove that people like us aren¡¯t just living recklessly¡ªwhy can¡¯t we, as gay people, have happiness? Why can¡¯t we have something long lasting?¡±


    Jiang Heng was momentarily stunned.


    ¡°Anyway I won¡¯t meddle anymore.¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°You guys, sort things on your own.¡±


    Rarely did Ge Xing open up like this. He didn¡¯t use his usual universal love rhetoric to fool people. After he finished speaking, he seemed a little embarrassed and sighed softly. He used the excuse of having fun to end the call.


    Ge Xing¡¯s interruption had erased any trace of sleepiness that remained for Jiang Heng.


    He rubbed his nose bridge, looked at the now-hung-up phone screen, and ultimately decided to give up on trying to sleep.


    He selectively ignored Gao Jingyi¡¯s ¡°warning¡± and made a call to the law firm¡¯s office.


    When there¡¯s a rotten apple at the top, the ones at the bottom will be spoiled as well. At this hour, an intern was still working late at the law firm. Jiang Heng¡¯s phone rang only a couple of times before being answered.


    ¡°Did Director Gao transfer a case to you recently?¡± Jiang Heng asked, ¡°Send me the information.¡±

 CH 16

    Ji Yao thought that when Hao Yu mentioned ¡°waiting for news,¡± it referred to waiting for the processing plan and communication results. Unexpectedly, as he waited, he received notice for a vacation.


    ¡°Xiao Ji, rest assured, there¡¯s absolutely no other meaning from the hospital¡¯s side.¡± Hao Yu seemed worried that Ji Yao might misunderstand, so he quickly waved his hand and explained, ¡°You see, recently there have been too many incidents of medical disputes and violence against medical staff in the news. The hospital is concerned about your safety. You didn¡¯t see the posture of the Li family members. When I escorted them out earlier, there were several burly young men waiting in the lobby. I couldn¡¯t tell if they were family members or bodyguards. They looked intimidating. Who knows if Mrs. Li might suddenly lose control and do something.¡±


    In recent years, tensions between doctors and patients had been high, and headlines frequently featured incidents of violence in medical facilities. This led to emergency preparedness plans against such incidents across Shanghai. Nobody dared to take the risk.


    Although Ji Yao wasn¡¯t pleased, he still felt a bit fearful about dealing with unreasonable patients¡¯ family members. Hearing this, he put down the pen he was holding and asked, ¡°How long is the vacation?¡±


    ¡°About a week,¡± Hao Yu gestured with his fingers, sighed, and continued, ¡°Actually, you know, our department is seriously understaffed. But, safety comes first. There are medical disputes every year, and training doctors is not easy. It wouldn¡¯t be worth it if something happened due to a misunderstanding like this. Plus, our department was short-staffed for the past few months, and you helped with a lot of shifts. Now, it¡¯s the perfect time for a break.¡±


    ¡°During this period, we will try our best to communicate and reach a consensus with the patients¡¯ family members. That would be the best outcome,¡± Hao Yu said. ¡°The board of directors¡¯ intention is that during this time, you can take your regular leave, and we will follow our own administrative attendance process. Just submit a leave application form.¡±


    Ji Yao understood his meaning. Going through the administrative process would mean that his leave was officially approved, and it wouldn¡¯t be related to the patients¡¯ family members or medical incidents.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Thank you, Director.¡±


    Hao Yu rubbed his hands together, stood up, patted Ji Yao¡¯s shoulder, and sighed, ¡°You¡¯ve really worked hard.¡±


    Hao Yu was genuinely worried for him, more so than Ji Yao himself.


    In the medical profession, encountering troubles a few times in one¡¯s career was inevitable. Ji Yao could tell that Li Linghua didn¡¯t fall into the category of extreme malicious intent. She wasn¡¯t asking for compensation; she only wanted justice for her son¡¯s death. She was a typical emotional and distraught mother unable to accept the fact of her son¡¯s death.


    Dealing with such people was tricky. Conventional methods like compensation or apologies often didn¡¯t work for them. However, it was also simple in a way. As long as they calmed down and accepted reality, things would usually resolve.


    Just consider it as paid leave, Ji Yao thought.


    After seeing off the overly concerned Hao Yu, Ji Yao returned to his office and organized the recent patients¡¯ cases to hand them over to his colleague who had been called back for duty temporarily.


    His colleague was slumped over the desk, looking tired and dejected, and looked up at him with a hint of resentment, saying, ¡°Your vacation is making me busier than ever.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°I hope the Medical Affairs Department can quickly resolve the issue with the patients¡¯ family members.¡±


    ¡°True, it¡¯s not your fault,¡± his colleague shook his head. After receiving the patient case information from Ji Yao, he asked casually, ¡°Any patients I should pay extra attention to?¡±


    ¡°Those with special conditions are marked,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°But¡­¡±


    He had wanted to mention how Jiang Heng had left the hospital against medical advice, but then he thought Jiang Heng was going to be discharged in a day or two anyway. It wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference, so he shook his head and said, ¡°Nothing special.¡±


    ¡°Okay, got it,¡± his colleague said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if anything comes up, I¡¯ll give you a call.¡±


    Over the past few years of working, Ji Yao had never taken such a long vacation at once. As he walked out of the hospital gate, he still felt a bit uneasy.


    It was nearing midnight, and the outpatient building was shrouded in darkness. The emergency department was brightly lit, and the sound of ambulances echoed as they passed by and stopped at the entrance of the emergency building.


    Medical staff hurriedly rushed past Ji Yao. He stepped aside, leaving a clear path for stretchers to pass by.


    The patients¡¯ family members followed the stretchers, crying and wailing. Blood seeped through the seams of the stretcher, dripping all along the way.


    The hospital seemed to have the same appearance every day, yet it also felt different each time. Ji Yao bent down to pick up a pitch-black wallet from the ground, then walked briskly a few steps and handed it to the distressed family member, slipping it into their arms.


    ¡°You dropped this,¡± Ji Yao said.


    The family member was disoriented, holding the wallet in their hands and staring at Ji Yao blankly for a couple of seconds. Then, they quickly bowed to thank him.


    Ji Yao waved his hand to indicate it was nothing, tightened his coat, and navigated through the crowd. He crossed the emergency building and left the hospital.


    Lately, there had been too many things going wrong. Taking a break would be good, Ji Yao thought. Right now, he just wanted to escape from the patients¡¯ family members and his ex-boyfriend, and find some peace and quiet.


    He slept a few full nights at home, performed deep cleaning inside and out, wiped the air conditioner three times before he was dug out from home by He Xiangyin, who had heard the news.


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal?¡± He Xiangyin said. ¡°To the point that it has you rotting at home?¡±


    ¡°Watch your words,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°I¡¯m not rotting at home. I¡¯m just on vacation. Do you have a cup for drinking water?¡±


    ¡°Vacation?¡± He Xiangyin came from the kitchen wearing slippers, raised an eyebrow, and said, ¡°You¡¯re on vacation, but you¡¯re not out having fun? I tried calling you several times to make plans, but couldn¡¯t get through. If I hadn¡¯t come to knock on your door, I was afraid you¡¯d sleep yourself to death.¡±


    ¡°I was overworked last month and tired. Can¡¯t I catch up on some sleep?¡± Ji Yao replied impatiently. He stood up from the couch and walked towards the dining area, wearing slippers.


    ¡°Forget it, I have no cups left.¡± He Xiangyin shrugged and said, ¡°I broke the cup we use for drinking water the day before yesterday after a fight with Er Gou.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Damn .¡± Ji Yao let out a long sigh of relief and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just pretend I didn¡¯t ask.¡±


    ¡°On a serious note, if that woman¡¯s family is really wealthy, won¡¯t they actually do something to you?¡± He Xiangyin said. ¡°You really need to be careful. Don¡¯t end up as a scapegoat for the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Is this a TV drama?¡± Ji Yao wasn¡¯t very concerned. ¡°This matter has nothing to do with me. The patient¡¯s death caused during resuscitation doesn¡¯t constitute negligence. Even if they sue, it won¡¯t hold.¡±


    ¡°But what if they have significant connections?¡± He Xiangyin felt increasingly worried. He put down his fork and stood up, coming over while holding a bowl, and said with concern, ¡°And then they manipulate things behind the scenes.¡±


    ¡°The hospital wouldn¡¯t agree either.¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Medical disputes are numerous year-round, but how many actually go to court? Even if the immediate family is acting on emotions, there are usually rational relatives who help calm the situation.¡±


    He was about to continue speaking when his phone on the coffee table suddenly vibrated. Ji Yao gestured for He Xiangyin to be quiet, picked up the call, and answered.


    He Xiangyin couldn¡¯t see the caller ID clearly, but he saw Ji Yao making affirmative sounds on the phone, then hanging up. Ji Yao stood up and walked to the door, putting on his coat.


    ¡°Hey, are you leaving?¡± He Xiangyin blinked, confused. ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to finish eating and then go out later?¡±


    Ji Yao glanced at the bowl of braised beef noodles in He Xiangyin¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Not today. The hospital called me to assist with an investigation.¡±


    ¡°Assist in what investigation?¡± He Xiangyin watched him warily. ¡°It¡¯s not some hidden scheme, is it?¡±


    Ji Yao put on his coat and gave him a look that said ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± then took out two thin rods from a decorative basket by the door and handed them to He Xiangyin.


    ¡°It¡¯s better if you eat your noodles,¡± Ji Yao said.


    Ji Yao hailed a cab back to the hospital. Since he was on vacation, he didn¡¯t need to clock in at the office. He took the elevator upstairs and planned to find Hao Yu first.


    Hao Director¡¯s office door was partially open. As Ji Yao approached, the head nurse from the emergency department walked out of the office.


    ¡°Be careful with your words, Dr. Ji,¡± the head nurse walked over to him and grabbed Ji Yao¡¯s arm, whispering, ¡°It seems like this time the patient¡¯s family means business.¡±


    Ji Yao looked up at the half-closed office door and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    The head nurse nodded towards the office, looking worried. ¡°They¡¯ve brought a lawyer.¡±


    Ji Yao furrowed his brow, starting to feel a headache.


    He had assumed that Li Linghua was just speaking out of anger, and that after going through the standard internal procedures, things would calm down. He hadn¡¯t expected her to be so persistent.


    ¡°Alright, I know,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    The head nurse shook her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± then patted his shoulder before walking away.


    Ji Yao stepped into the office and heard Director Hao Yu speaking with someone. The conversation paused briefly as Ji Yao entered, then Hao Yu¡¯s voice sounded, asking him to come in.


    Ji Yao entered the office and found a man sitting across from Hao Yu. When their eyes met, the man obviously paused, appearing taken aback.


    ¡°¡­ Ji Yao?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    In that instant, Ji Yao¡¯s heart sank.

 CH 17

    Jiang Heng clearly hadn¡¯t expected Ji Yao to be the one entering the room.


    The case files he received weren¡¯t complete. The files only mentioned the hospital as the entity involved, without specific personnel information.


    Their gazes met in the air, and in each other¡¯s eyes, they both saw the same disbelief.


    Hao Yu stood up from behind his desk, glanced at Ji Yao, then at Jiang Heng. He seemed to sense an unusual atmosphere in the air.


    ¡°This is Mrs. Li Linghua¡¯s representative lawyer,¡± Hao Yu introduced them to each other, ¡°And this is our Dr. Ji, you know each other?¡±


    ¡°I know him,¡± Jiang Heng was the first to regain his composure. He smiled politely at Hao Yu and then turned to Ji Yao, saying, ¡°I just had an emergency consultation at your hospital last week, and Dr. Ji was my attending physician.¡±


    ¡°Attending physician,¡± these words hit Ji Yao like a thud. He lowered his eyes, nodded slightly at Jiang Heng without any greeting, and walked straight to the side of the desk, pulling out a chair and sitting down.


    ¡°Ah, what a coincidence,¡± Hao Yu dryly chuckled, rubbing his hands together, sitting back down in his chair. He continued the topic he had left unfinished earlier, ¡°So, we understand Mrs. Li¡¯s feelings of grief, but as I mentioned before, we followed the normal emergency procedure. Regarding determining a medical accident, you surely understand it better than the family members.¡±


    Jiang Heng, with a polite smile, gave a slight nod but didn¡¯t engage. He listened as Hao Yu continued.


    ¡°Therefore, we still believe that it¡¯s best to resolve this through negotiation, if possible,¡± Hao Yu said. ¡°There¡¯s no need for the family members to be so stubborn.¡±


    Hao Yu said this, but in reality, he didn¡¯t have high hopes. After all, the people in front of them were not the actual family members; they were just ¡°representative lawyers.¡± These individuals were doing this for money. If Li Linghua were to drop the matter suddenly, where would they earn their fees?


    As expected, Jiang Heng was unyielding. He ignored Hao Yu¡¯s statement and pressed forward, saying firmly, ¡°Of course, we are all here to resolve the issue fairly and justly. Since my client has doubts, then let¡¯s investigate this thoroughly. It¡¯s in the interest of both the hospital, Dr. Ji, and my client.¡±


    He had framed the nature of the issue as investigating the truth fairly and justly. Hao Yu had no choice but to admit that Jiang Heng had come prepared. The director sighed inwardly, looked at Ji Yao, wanting to seek his opinion, but Ji Yao seemed to have taken a strong interest in the cabbage decoration on Hao Yu¡¯s desk, not looking up. Hao Yu tried to signal him several times, but Ji Yao remained oblivious.


    Left with no choice, Hao Yu could only agree, ¡°Indeed.¡±


    Jiang Heng hadn¡¯t paid much attention to Ji Yao¡¯s presence. He acted as if he were genuinely focused on the matter at hand. He treated Ji Yao as an attending physician he had a casual acquaintance with, besides the initial greeting, not giving Ji Yao another glance.


    Were the medical staff present at the time of the incident all here?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    ¡°Two staff members are on rotation and not on duty today. You¡¯ll have to come back another day if you want to see them,¡± Hao Yu said. ¡°But even then, there might not be any progress. We¡¯ll have to see when the time comes.¡±


    On the day of Li Wen¡¯s surgery, the emergency room had been extremely busy. Other than Ji Yao, the only staff members who had face-to-face interactions with patients and their families were two nurses.


    However, the time that had passed and the attention the case had garnered had made it challenging for one of the nurses to recall the exact situation that day. She couldn¡¯t definitively confirm whether Li Wen¡¯s father had mentioned the medical history or drug allergies of the deceased or not.


    ¡°Dr. Ji,¡± Jiang Heng suddenly spoke up, ¡°My client claims that Li Wen¡¯s father clearly informed you of the deceased¡¯s medical history, medication, and other details. Is this true?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ji Yao finally shifted his attention from the cabbage decoration, frowned, and said, ¡°He didn¡¯t say anything. He just cried and begged me to save his son.¡±


    Jiang Heng tilted his head slightly, looking seriously at Ji Yao, and asked, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Even considering the breakup three years ago, Ji Yao had never heard such a distant and accusatory tone from Jiang Heng. Despite the passage of time, Ji Yao still felt uncomfortable.


    Suppressing his discomfort, he leaned back against the chair, sounding impatient, and said, ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡±


    ¡°Second question,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°The informed consent form for the surgery was signed by Mrs. Zhou Fang in the presence of Li Wen¡¯s father, correct?¡±


    Ji Yao hesitated for a moment before realizing that the ¡°Mrs. Zhou Fang¡± Jiang Heng mentioned was probably the unnamed woman accompanying Li Wen¡¯s father.


    ¡°¡­ Yes,¡± Ji Yao knew this would likely be a point of contention for Li Linghua. He licked his lips and reluctantly admitted, ¡°But it was because Li Wen¡¯s father refused to sign.¡±


    ¡°Was there a clear act of refusal?¡± Jiang Heng asked. ¡°Verbal or physical.¡±


    No, Ji Yao¡¯s heart sank.


    At the time, the middle-aged man had been crying non-stop and had ignored Ji Yao¡¯s request to sign the form. However, he hadn¡¯t shown any explicit signs of refusal.


    It was because he had been dragging his feet and refusing to sign that Ji Yao had automatically handed the notification letter to the more composed ¡°family member.¡±


    Ji Yao knew this answer might not work in his favor. He hesitated before answering.


    Jiang Heng seemed to gather the answer from Ji Yao¡¯s brief hesitation and didn¡¯t press further.


    ¡°Can I take a copy of Mr. Li Wen¡¯s medication records and the emergency medical record from that day?¡± Jiang Heng asked Hao Yu.


    ¡°Technically, yes, but you need to go through the proper channels,¡± Hao Yu said. ¡°You¡¯ll need an authorization letter to access specific information and an official review notice.¡±


    Hao Yu was familiar with dealing with these matters year-round. He knew lawyers had the right to gather evidence, but medical records and medication information were crucial evidence, and the hospital¡¯s stance was to provide as little as possible.


    Thankfully, Jiang Heng appeared to be reasonable in his approach. He didn¡¯t use a court-issued evidence gathering authorization letter to pressure them, so there didn¡¯t seem to be malicious intent.


    ¡°Then shall I accompany you?¡± Hao Yu suggested.


    ¡°No need, please stay here,¡± Jiang Heng politely declined. He then turned to Ji Yao and asked, ¡°Dr. Ji, since you¡¯re on vacation, could you rscort me out?¡±


    Hao Yu wasn¡¯t too keen on allowing Ji Yao to have too much private contact with Jiang Heng. After all, Ji Yao was still young, and Hao Yu worried that Jiang Heng might inadvertently manipulate the conversation. He was prepared to refuse the request, but to his surprise, Ji Yao stood up before he could speak and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Ji Yao said this and walked past Jiang Heng. He left the office before Jiang Heng, who took his time catching up. After exiting the building, they walked together through a small garden behind the hospital toward Jiang Heng¡¯s car parked in the rear parking lot.


    Ji Yao wasn¡¯t sure why Jiang Heng had asked him to accompany him. Ever since he had seen Jiang Heng earlier in the day, his mood had been complex and his emotions unstable. He felt a mixture of being wrongly accused and an inability to control his sense of grievance.


    Ji Yao understood that if it were any other lawyer here today, he would be annoyed, but beyond that, he wouldn¡¯t think much of it. Unfortunately, it was Jiang Heng, and he found it difficult to convince himself to remain composed.


    Yet, he also didn¡¯t have the position to respond as such. After all, the person before him was working professionally, merely handling a case that happened to involve him. It had been three years since their breakup, and Jiang Heng had no reason to consider Ji Yao¡¯s feelings in his professional duties.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s car was parked in the hospital¡¯s rear parking lot, and getting there required crossing a small garden behind the inpatient building. Ji Yao led the way, and neither of them spoke during the walk. It was only when they reached the center of the garden, where there was no one else around, that Jiang Heng slowed down and eventually came to a stop.


    Ji Yao heard Jiang Heng¡¯s footsteps behind him and stopped as well, turning around with a puzzled expression.


    Jiang Heng pulled a slim box of cigarettes from his pocket and gestured towards Ji Yao, ¡°Do you want one?¡±


    Ji Yao wasn¡¯t sure what Jiang Heng was up to, but he stared at him, trying to read his intentions from his face.


    However, he couldn¡¯t discern anything.


    Ji Yao glanced at him, and despite knowing that Jiang Heng had come here today to find evidence against him, he couldn¡¯t resist his habit.


    He took the cigarette from Jiang Heng¡¯s hand and slid it into his pocket.


    ¡°I don¡¯t smoke,¡± Ji Yao said unkindly, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t either. The doctor¡¯s orders are to quit smoking and drinking for three months.¡±


    Jiang Heng was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, seemingly genuinely amused. He put the cigarette pack back into his pocket.


    ¡°You¡¯ve stirred up trouble,¡± after a brief pause, Jiang Heng¡¯s playful expression faded, and he spoke more seriously, ¡°Li Wen¡¯s father is an outsider in this family. He¡¯s been relying on Li Linghua¡¯s support to establish himself in Shanghai. But over the years, he¡¯s probably not content with being a mere son-in-law anymore. He¡¯s accumulated quite a few debts outside due to his philandering.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t these your client¡¯s private matters?¡± Ji Yao couldn¡¯t help but taunt him. ¡°You¡¯re just telling me like this?¡±


    ¡°Public information is open for anyone who¡¯s interested to find out,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t yield to Jiang Heng¡¯s provocations, but he couldn¡¯t resist listening when the matter concerned him.


    ¡°Li Wen¡¯s father is scheming to divorce Li Linghua and wants a share of the assets, but Li Linghua is prepared. She¡¯s transferred most of the assets under Li Wen¡¯s name. If they divorce now, he won¡¯t get a penny,¡± Jiang Heng continued. ¡°The woman you met earlier, Zhou Fang, is Li Wen¡¯s father¡¯s mistress. Lately, she¡¯s been pushing for a divorce and a division of assets. There¡¯s a lot more to this story that I can¡¯t tell you. I can only say that Li Linghua suspects her son¡¯s death wasn¡¯t an accident but a murder. That¡¯s why she¡¯s clinging to it¡ªyou¡¯ve stepped into the line of fire.¡±

 CH 18

    There¡¯s no particular reason why misfortune strikes a person. Even if you live your life systematically, work diligently, and avoid any unnecessary actions, misfortune can still descend from the sky and accurately hit you right on the head.


    Ji Yao understood that Jiang Heng¡¯s reminder was given out of a sense of the ¡°past,¡± a friendly heads-up meant to prepare him psychologically. However, after listening, Ji Yao not only didn¡¯t feel reassured, but also became even more agitated.


    ¡°It¡¯s their family matter; it has nothing to do with me,¡± Ji Yao couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I¡¯m just a doctor. To me, all patients on the sickbed are just a mass of flesh and blood. There¡¯s no distinction of high or low status. I don¡¯t have X-ray eyes to see into their family dramas¡ªalthough, if I had to point out something specific, he did indeed cause all the medical staff in the room to take PEP blockade medication together.¡±


    Jiang Heng nodded as if he didn¡¯t particularly care about Ji Yao¡¯s attitude. He brushed aside Ji Yao¡¯s complaints and, in a business-like manner, asked, ¡°I almost forgot, one final question. Do you know Zhou Fang?¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s sense of grievance abruptly stopped, replaced by a surge of annoyed distrust from deep within. He had always thought that, regardless of the good or bad history between him and Jiang Heng, they had still spent so much time together. They should have known each other¡¯s boundaries.


    However, now it seemed clear that Jiang Heng, just like Li Linghua, had already categorized him as a ¡°suspect.¡±


    He tried hard to convince himself that he didn¡¯t care about this categorization, but obviously, he wasn¡¯t successful.


    His reason and emotions wrestled intensely for a moment. Eventually, all he could do was to answer the questions instead of turning and walking away.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know her,¡± Ji Yao said coldly.


    Jiang Heng nodded.


    He didn¡¯t say anything, and Ji Yao couldn¡¯t tell if he believed him or not. For a brief moment, Ji Yao wanted to ask him if his testimony was meaningless, if he would automatically stand on Li Linghua¡¯s side just because she was his client, and whether the truth even mattered.


    But soon, Ji Yao bit his tongue and forcefully quelled that impulse.


    Because he knew the answer.


    No one understood Jiang Heng better than him. Back when they were in Beijing, Jiang Heng was renowned as the ¡°Living Yama,¡± able to turn black into white and white into black with a single word. Whether it made sense or not, whether the client was good or bad, as long as they hired him, he could twist the truth right in front of everyone¡¯s eyes.


    He specialized in criminal litigation, taking on any kind of case during his internship, whether business or legal aid. As a plaintiff¡¯s defense lawyer, he seemed like a living embodiment of the rule of law, fighting to bring criminals to justice. But as a defense lawyer for the accused, he was extremely skilled at sophistry, making even the most extreme arguments sound reasonable.


    The most memorable instance for Ji Yao was when Jiang Heng managed to argue that a case of negligent manslaughter was an accident, and even managed to cut the compensation in half.


    The deceased¡¯s family was a low-income household, and without their breadwinner, they cried and pleaded in the courtroom. Even the interns attending the trial found it hard to bear, yet Jiang Heng remained indifferent.


    So, Ji Yao always felt that, for Jiang Heng, whether something was ¡°fair and just¡± depended on which side of the courtroom he was standing on.


    Even facing an ex-boyfriend, let alone his biological father, Ji Yao believed Jiang Heng wouldn¡¯t show any leniency.


    But considering this, Ji Yao unexpectedly felt somewhat relieved. After all, he had known for a long time that this was Jiang Heng¡¯s way of doing things. After giving up unnecessary expectations, he naturally wouldn¡¯t feel disappointed.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave Shanghai anytime soon. If you want to go through the legal process, go ahead,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°If Li Linghua regrets it and wants to mediate, she¡¯s welcome to discuss it with the hospital at any time.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°I¡¯ll convey that.¡±


    The evening was drawing near, and the gray-blue sky pressed down heavily. The cold wind brushed against Ji Yao¡¯s exposed hand, causing goosebumps to rise.


    Both he and Jiang Heng fell into silence simultaneously. This quiet atmosphere spread between them, giving rise to a faint awkwardness. They both knew that this meant the conversation should come to an end, yet neither of them took the initiative to say goodbye.


    After a while, Ji Yao felt a slight sense of relief and suddenly found this pretense rather boring. They had clearly reached the point of unspoken mutual understanding, yet they were still tenaciously holding onto the notion of leaving room for each other, maintaining the veneer of adult social politeness. It felt hypocritical and awkward.


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t know what Jiang Heng was thinking. He only felt mentally exhausted, so he sighed and broke the silence first, ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving. If you have any further questions, just reach out to the hospital.¡±


    After Ji Yao finished speaking, he didn¡¯t give Jiang Heng time to react. He bowed in a perfunctory manner and turned to head back the way he came.


    However, just as he had taken about ten steps, Jiang Heng called him back.


    ¡°Ji Yao,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    Ji Yao¡¯s footsteps hesitated slightly, and he turned his head to look at him.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stay in Beijing, go to Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and instead came all the way to Shanghai?¡± Jiang Heng suddenly said. ¡°This isn¡¯t consistent with your original plan.¡±


    This was the first time they had explicitly brought up the past since reuniting.


    Ji Yao wasn¡¯t sure about Jiang Heng¡¯s intention when he asked that question. Separated by a short stone path, Ji Yao locked eyes with Jiang Heng, trying to discern whether Jiang Heng was just playfully trying to amuse himself in the moment or if he genuinely sought an answer.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t avoid Ji Yao¡¯s gaze; instead, he met it head-on with an open and candid expression.


    Odd, Ji Yao thought, wondering whether he truly didn¡¯t understand Jiang Heng.


    Based on what he knew about Jiang Heng, Jiang Heng was the type of person who would never voluntarily utter such words. He never clung onto past connections; he was always carefree. He developed and ended relationships quickly, believing that fixating on trivial matters would only slow down life¡¯s efficiency, as he once put it.


    Hence, his single period was short, and he never had any disputes with past partners. After breaking up, he¡¯d simply retreat to being friends, avoiding any attempt to rekindle old feelings.


    Even though their relationship had long surpassed its ¡°best before¡± date, Ji Yao only believed it persisted because Jiang Heng¡¯s interest hadn¡¯t waned. He never considered himself different from Jiang Heng¡¯s previous partners, nor did he think Jiang Heng would genuinely be preoccupied with him.


    Furthermore, the scene of their breakup was so ugly that Ji Yao didn¡¯t think Jiang Heng was magnanimous enough to have already forgotten everything about that day.


    So, what was Jiang Heng preoccupied with now, Ji Yao wondered, and what could this question possibly mean to him?


    ¡°¡­Do you want to hear the truth, or a lie?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    Jiang Heng smiled, saying, ¡°You know I don¡¯t like lying, nor do I like hearing lies.¡±


    For no apparent reason, Ji Yao remained silent for a while. Then he turned around, and a shallow smile graced his lips as he faced Jiang Heng.


    ¡°Because you said you¡¯d never return to Shanghai,¡± Ji Yao said.

 CH 19

    Ji Yao had always believed that he and Jiang Heng shouldn¡¯t see each other again, nor should they have any further interactions.


    Regardless of how much love they had when they were together, there was one undeniable fact ¨C Jiang Heng did break the norm by extending their short-lived ¡°romance¡± infinitely; and he himself almost abandoned his own principles for Jiang Heng, coming close to crossing his own boundaries.


    No matter how much genuine affection they might have put into their relationship back then, what mattered was that, for a certain period of time, they indeed became the most special beings to each other.


    They knew each other¡¯s secrets, maintained unspoken agreements, and even their breakup was as intense as a cleanly snapped blade, straightforward and decisive.


    If they had simply grown tired or bored of each other, and their breakup had followed a natural course, then that would¡¯ve been fine and, with time, forgettable. But their separation had been both abrupt and rushed, which instead made it hard to let go.


    The sharp edge of the separation would never disappear. When left unnoticed, it gathered dust; when brought out and touched, it inevitably cut the hand.


    Hence, the best outcome for them was to never see each other again, treating each other as if they didn¡¯t exist in each other¡¯s worlds. Because once the illusion was broken, it would be hard for them to move forward.


    Over the years, Ji Yao had never deliberately recalled anything related to Jiang Heng. Until today, he hadn¡¯t really thought about it, maybe out of fear.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s gaze flickered, seemingly unprepared for this answer, almost losing his usual composure.


    He fell silent for two seconds, then managed a smile, as though he didn¡¯t want to confront this answer.


    ¡°It looks like it¡¯s going to rain,¡± Jiang Heng changed the topic. ¡°Did you bring an umbrella?¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s heart moved slightly, his fingers in his pocket unconsciously twitching.


    The humidity in the air was quite apparent, a thin layer of frost clinging to withered leaves. The sky gradually darkened, and small lawn lights began to glow by the stone pathway.


    Right, Ji Yao thought, the time when he and Jiang Heng ¡°progressed further¡± in their relationship had also been on a gloomy rainy night.


    It had been a few months after their return from Hokkaido, also in late summer.


    It happened to be a Saturday. Following his routine, Ji Yao had returned home. However, his timing coincided with a social engagement his father had from his work unit. They had come back late, and the couple had quarreled persistently, arguing even until past 1 AM.


    Ji Yao lay in the second bedroom just behind a wall, listening to his parents¡¯ argument and dragging up disputes from twenty years ago. From drinks and socializing to trivial household matters, it finally fell into silence, leaving only the suppressed sound of his mother sobbing.


    He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling in silence for a while, then got up expressionlessly, not even bothering to put on a coat, taking his phone and leaving.


    Thinking back now, that day was much like today, heavy with moisture in the air, suffocating.


    Ji Yao wanted to go back to the school dormitory, but it was too late. So he scrolled through his contacts and called Jiang Heng.


    Jiang Heng arrived quickly. Ji Yao waited in place for twenty minutes before he saw Jiang Heng getting out of a taxi and running towards him.


    Jiang Heng wore casual clothes that day, hadn¡¯t even had time to remove his glasses. As he approached, Ji Yao noticed a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.


    ¡°Why are you out at this hour?¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡± are you feeling cold?¡±


    Ji Yao shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡±


    He could sense that Jiang Heng was gauging his attitude towards the previous question and therefore tactfully didn¡¯t press further, just taking off his coat and giving it to Ji Yao, then accompanying him on the sidewalk for a while.


    They walked a stretch of road through a construction zone without streetlights, then reached a main road, passing by a 24-hour convenience store.


    Under the blue and white sign of the convenience store, Jiang Heng suddenly reached out, tightening Ji Yao¡¯s collar.


    ¡°It seems like it¡¯s going to rain,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°Did you bring an umbrella?¡±


    Ji Yao turned his head, looking at the convenience store entrance¡¯s rack of umbrellas, then turned back to face Jiang Heng and calmly shook his head.


    ¡°No,¡± Ji Yao said.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Jiang Heng narrowed his eyes, saying, ¡°let¡¯s go to my place.¡±


    That was the first time they opened up their private spaces to each other since they¡¯d been together for a few months. Ji Yao remembered it was a rainy night in Beijing. Raindrops started tapping against the window glass shortly after he entered the apartment.


    It was after three in the morning. Ji Yao stood in front of the French windows, watching the heavy rain outside. Jiang Heng, freshly showered, came from behind and wrapped his warm, steamy arms around Ji Yao¡¯s waist, playfully nipping at his earlobe.


    ¡°Stay over,¡± Jiang Heng¡¯s voice was soft. ¡°From now on, live with me.¡±


    Ji Yao remembered he¡¯d said, ¡°Okay,¡± back then.


    It seemed like Jiang Heng always appeared in certain situations, effortlessly striking at Ji Yao¡¯s heart. Step by step, Ji Yao had moved further without resistance, ending up in a situation he couldn¡¯t turn back from.


    Now, nearly six years later, facing the same person, the same question, the answer wouldn¡¯t be the same.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t bring one,¡± Ji Yao shook his phone at Jiang Heng, saying, ¡°But I can get a cab in a while.¡±


    Jiang Heng nodded.


    ¡°Alright, be careful on your way back,¡± he said.


    As his words trailed off, he finally ended the exchange of pleasantries. Jiang Heng turned away before Ji Yao, walking towards the other end of the stone pathway.


    Ji Yao stood still with his hands in his pockets, watching Jiang Heng¡¯s figure grow distant. He felt like Jiang Heng¡¯s back was exactly the same as three years ago, except maybe a bit slimmer, otherwise unchanged.


    Probably due to his ongoing recovery, Jiang Heng¡¯s pace wasn¡¯t fast, but his demeanor was good. He¡¯d walked through the construction area without looking hunched, and when he left the stone path, he couldn¡¯t help but reach out and touch the doorframe of Moon Gate.


    He could feel Ji Yao¡¯s gaze still lingering behind him, but he didn¡¯t turn around.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s surgical wounds hadn¡¯t fully healed yet, occasionally causing him pain. Inconvenient for driving, he¡¯d pre-ordered a driver from a ride-hailing service.


    The efficiency of the service turned out to be better than he¡¯d expected. By the time he reached the parking area, the staff member in a blue vest was already leaning against the car, waiting for him.


    Jiang Heng opened the trunk, then slowly sat in the passenger seat, tucking the plushy cushion in his arms.


    Within these few steps, rain began to fall from the sky. Raindrops splashed against the windshield, forming shallow watermarks.


    Jiang Heng took out a warm bottle of mineral water from a thermos box and swallowed a few pills.


    The driver put away the items in the trunk, then quickly entered the car, asking about the destination as usual, ¡°Is it to Lujiazui Riverside Estate?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Jiang Heng thought for a moment, changing his mind on the spot. Shaking his head, he said, ¡°Go to the Ruiting Waterfront.¡±


    ¡°The villa area in Pudong?¡± the driver asked.


    ¡°Yes, West Gate,¡± Jiang Heng said.

 CH 20

    It was 7:30 in the evening, still within the normal visiting hours.


    Jiang Heng handed the appointment notice for Building 21-6 in Area C to the security guard at the entrance and successfully obtained a temporary parking card.


    Ruiting Riverside was a newly built villa area. Only a third of the area had been sold so far, and most of the houses in the complex were dark and gloomy. Occasionally, a few yards had cement and sand piles, indicating the beginning stages of renovation.


    Jiang Heng parked the car in the visitor parking space at the entrance of Building 21-6, then walked to the gate and rang the doorbell.


    The one who opened the door was Li Nan, the elder daughter of Li Linghua. Her eyes were slightly red, and she wasn¡¯t wearing makeup. Her long hair was slightly messy at the ends, as if she hadn¡¯t taken care of it properly.


    ¡°Lawyer Jiang,¡± Li Nan managed a faint smile and gestured for him to come in. ¡°Sorry to trouble you so late.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°It¡¯s all in order to solve the problem as soon as possible.¡±


    While speaking, Jiang Heng discreetly assessed Li Nan. He noticed that she was dressed in soft home clothing, and two of her artificial nails on her right hand were missing, which was quite evident when they shook hands.


    Li Linghua had built her business from the ground up, and Li Nan served as the marketing director in her company. People like them who constantly met with clients usually paid attention to their appearance and demeanor.


    Looks like she hasn¡¯t been out these past few days, Jiang Heng thought.


    Li Nan welcomed him inside, and the entrance to the villa was slightly open. As they approached, they could hear a heated argument from inside.


    Jiang Heng raised his head upon hearing the voices and noticed that the windows of the balcony on the second floor were not tightly closed.


    As soon as he stepped inside, the previously indistinct argument became clear. It sounded like Li Linghua was venting her anger to someone.


    ¡°I knew it. You wish Xiao Wen was dead, and I was dead too. You want to be free with your little fox spirit.¡± Li Linghua¡¯s voice was sharp and cutting, mixed with countless traces of anger. ¡°Let me tell you, Liu Qiang, you won¡¯t succeed. I¡¯d rather donate everything than give you a single cent!¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you wrongly accusing me?¡± The male voice sounded extremely wronged, almost higher in pitch than Li Linghua¡¯s. ¡°Xiao Wen is my son too. How can I not be sad?¡±


    Li Linghua sneered, ¡°Then who knows what you¡¯re plotting?¡±


    ¡°I was a little confused before, but even a tiger wouldn¡¯t eat its cubs. You have to believe me on this,¡± Liu Qiang¡¯s voice suddenly softened, trying to appease her. ¡°The matters of adults have nothing to do with the child. I only have this one bloodline. How could I bear to harm him?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Wen has been under my care since childhood. He wasn¡¯t well when he was young, and I carried him to the hospital every time.¡± Liu Qiang¡¯s voice choked up, low and hoarse. ¡°Linghua, you can say I¡¯m not human, that I¡¯m a beast, that I¡¯m weak against temptation. But you can¡¯t say that I conspired with someone to harm Xiao Wen.¡±


    This sentence seemed to finally touch Li Linghua. The argument suddenly ceased, and after a few seconds, low sobs could be heard.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry you have to hear all this,¡± Li Nan¡¯s expression was somewhat uneasy. She touched the back of her neck and whispered, ¡°Mom and Dad are arguing, and it¡¯s about Xiao Wen¡ª¡±


    Li Nan pursed her lips, seemingly finding it difficult to speak.


    ¡°Although Mom is really angry, after all these years of marriage, deep down, she still wants to believe in Dad,¡± Li Nan sighed and said, ¡°I advised her, but she¡¯s a bit stubborn.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Heng keenly sensed something from Li Nan¡¯s words and casually asked, ¡°Do you suspect there¡¯s some hidden situation?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡± Li Nan shook her head, cautiously refraining from speculating, ¡°I just feel that if a man dares to betray a woman once, he will definitely dare to do it a second time.¡±


    Jiang Heng unexpectedly glanced at her upon hearing that.


    After contemplating for a moment, he chose a tactful way to respond, ¡°You seem closer to Mrs. Li.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not her biological daughter.¡± Li Nan hugged her arms, seemingly thinking that since Jiang Heng had already heard the argument between Li Linghua and Liu Qiang, there was nothing she couldn¡¯t say, ¡°From a blood relation perspective, my mother is her second cousin¡ªshe wasn¡¯t well at the time and couldn¡¯t have children, so she adopted me from my biological mother. Xiao Wen is her only child. It¡¯s not a secret, but you just didn¡¯t know, Mr. Jiang.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Jiang Heng lowered his eyes slightly and confirmed, ¡°So, Mr. Li Wen is the only child of Mrs. Li and Mr. Liu Qiang?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Li Nan said.


    Jiang Heng nodded and didn¡¯t say anything more.


    After changing his shoes at the entrance, Jiang Heng followed Li Nan into the living room. The argument upstairs had also come to an end. Li Linghua and Liu Qiang, one after the other, came down the stairs. Both of them appeared to be in low spirits.


    Li Linghua went straight to the cold refreshment area, poured herself a glass of ice water, while Liu Qiang followed a few steps behind her. He greeted Jiang Heng with a nod, looking somewhat uncomfortable.


    Jiang Heng smiled at him, and Liu Qiang, initially trying to avoid eye contact, somehow forced himself to look back at Jiang Heng. He managed a strained smile.


    Li Linghua seemed to still hold some resentment towards Liu Qiang. After getting her water, she brushed past him without even looking at him, then turned and walked towards Jiang Heng.


    Liu Qiang¡¯s face darkened for a moment, but he didn¡¯t say anything. After hesitating for a while, he followed Li Linghua¡¯s footsteps without a word.


    Jiang Heng stood up from the sofa, shook hands with Li Linghua, and said, ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot, Mrs. Li.¡± Li Linghua¡¯s expression looked quite exhausted. ¡°Has the matter at the hospital been resolved? When can we proceed with the lawsuit?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, but rest assured, I¡¯ll let you know when there¡¯s concrete progress on my end,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°I¡¯ve conducted preliminary inquiries with the parties involved and others present, but for more detailed medical records and medication lists, I¡¯ll need your signature to obtain the evidence.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Li Linghua¡¯s spirit and mind were both fatigued. She took a sip of water, then nodded slightly, saying, ¡°You can bring whatever materials need my signature. As long as we can get justice for Xiao Wen, I don¡¯t mind the trouble.¡±


    ¡°Great.¡± Jiang Heng nodded and said, ¡°I also need to inquire about the details of the event from relevant individuals.¡± He turned to Liu Qiang and asked warmly, ¡°Mr. Liu, on the day Mr. Li Wen was admitted to the hospital, were you present?¡±


    Liu Qiang was caught off guard by the direct question and gave a quick nod, vaguely confirming that he was.


    ¡°I went to the hospital today,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°The hospital¡¯s version of events differs slightly from yours. They claim they didn¡¯t receive any information from you, nor did they obtain any patient information from you. Is that true?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible.¡± Liu Qiang¡¯s body jolted as he was directly addressed. He hurriedly shook his head and denied, ¡°I provided all the information I should have. It¡¯s¡ª¡±


    Jiang Heng suddenly made a gesture to interrupt his words. Then, right in front of Liu Qiang, he took out a recording pen from his pocket and lightly placed it on the coffee table.


    Liu Qiang looked at the recording pen with its blinking blue light and his expression turned slightly grim.


    ¡°Key information is needed as evidence in court. It¡¯s better to be cautious,¡± Jiang Heng smiled and said, ¡°Furthermore, as a lawyer, I prefer open and honest information exchange. That¡¯s the only way we can resolve this matter as soon as possible¡­ Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Mr. Liu?¡±


    Liu Qiang refrained from looking at the blinking blue light on the recording pen, and he forced a nod.


    ¡°Mr. Liu,¡± Jiang Heng¡¯s speech wasn¡¯t hurried, but his pronunciation was precise, ¡°Are you certain that you provided clear and crucial medical information?¡±

 CH 21

    Liu Qiang opened and closed his mouth, his gaze uncontrollably drifting back to the recording pen that was currently on.


    It was clear that this pen was causing him some psychological pressure. Liu Qiang¡¯s fingers clenched and then relaxed, his eyes darting rapidly from side to side.


    Jiang Heng watched him quietly, carefully observing his expressions, eye movements, and breathing rate without rushing him.


    However, Li Linghua¡¯s patience was much less than Jiang Heng¡¯s. She took a sip of water and discontentedly kicked Liu Qiang¡¯s ankle.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, too scared to speak?¡± Li Linghua coldly chuckled, ¡°You dare lie to me, but in front of a lawyer, you can¡¯t repeat your lies?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Liu Qiang instinctively retorted, ¡°I was just thinking¡­ I had been drinking that day, and I¡¯m afraid that what I say might be off, misleading everyone.¡±


    ¡°Take your time,¡± Jiang Heng gestured for calm, smiling as he advised, ¡°We need to notarize the evidence later, so it¡¯s indeed wise to be cautious about what you say.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I did say it at the time,¡± Liu Qiang said, ¡°I told the young doctor.¡±


    ¡°The attending physician?¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°Are you sure you remember saying it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure, I didn¡¯t drink much.¡± As he spoke the first sentence, the rest flowed more smoothly. Liu Qiang seemed intentionally determined to show something in front of Li Linghua and firmly stated, ¡°I said it right at the entrance of the emergency room to him, and I said it twice.¡±


    ¡°Were there others present at the time?¡± Jiang Heng asked, ¡°Other medical staff or such.¡±


    ¡°No, but Zhou Fang was there.¡±


    At the mention of this name, Liu Qiang¡¯s shoulders tensed for a moment, and he subconsciously glanced at Li Linghua¡¯s expression.


    As expected, Li Linghua gave a cold smile, but since she was in the midst of questioning, she held back from attacking.


    Liu Qiang mustered his courage and continued, ¡°I don¡¯t remember much about the others. There were quite a few people in the emergency room at the time. I don¡¯t know how many heard us talking.¡±


    Jiang Heng nodded and continued, ¡°Who filled out the surgery informed consent form?¡±


    ¡°Zhou Fang,¡± Liu Qiang said.


    ¡°You were there at the time, so why wasn¡¯t it you who filled it out?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Liu Qiang hastily waved his hand and said, ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t remember well, it seems they didn¡¯t give it to me.¡±


    ¡°They directly gave it to Ms. Zhou Fang?¡± Jiang Heng confirmed.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Liu Qiang vaguely nodded, ¡°Seems so, I was too anxious at the time, couldn¡¯t help wiping away my tears, I don¡¯t remember looking at the form myself. Not long after I arrived, they asked me a few questions and then took Xiao Wen away, saying they needed to save him.¡±


    ¡°Attorney Jiang, that woman clearly had ill intentions.¡± Li Linghua couldn¡¯t hold back and interjected, ¡°She had been hoping for Xiao Wen to die early, she¡¯s the one who harmed Xiao Wen.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Li, I understand your emotions, but you can¡¯t make baseless accusations,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    ¡°I have evidence!¡± Li Linghua said, remembering something. She wiped away a tear, turned around and went upstairs, returning moments later holding a file folder.


    ¡°I hired a private detective to investigate that woman, she confessed in person, saying she wanted to get rid of Xiao Wen before the divorce!¡± Li Linghua handed the file folder to Jiang Heng, saying, ¡°That doctor must be her accomplice!¡±


    Jiang Heng was slightly taken aback, clearly surprised by this turn of events. He held the file folder in his hand, briefly glanced inside, and found that apart from documents and a stack of photos, there was also a small USB drive.


    Jiang Heng furrowed his brow slightly, feeling that things had become a bit complicated.


    Li Linghua gave Liu Qiang a harsh glare, her eyes reddening again.


    ¡°What kind of cunning woman did you get involved with!¡± Li Linghua couldn¡¯t help but throw a cushion at him, saying fiercely, ¡°You two must be in cahoots to harm us remaining, mother and daughter!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t say that,¡± Liu Qiang weakly retorted, ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t expect her to be so ruthless.¡±


    Li Linghua¡¯s emotions seemed on the brink of collapsing, and Li Nan had to step forward to separate the two.


    Jiang Heng observed coldly from the sidelines, realizing Li Nan was right¡ªLi Linghua still held some trust in Liu Qiang. So, even if she said things like accusing him of being unfaithful and a murderer, deep down, she was still willing to listen to his explanations.


    On the other hand, Li Linghua was the victim, she was Li Wen¡¯s biological mother, but unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t present when the incident happened. Thus, the crucial points of the case were focused on Liu Qiang.


    Whether he had provided critical information, and whether he had refused to sign the surgery consent form, were important details needed to determine the nature of the case.


    The question of whether Ji Yao was severely irresponsible, leading to the patient¡¯s injury and death, or if it was an accident; whether it violated regulations or was an emergency response¡ªall depended on Liu Qiang¡¯s behavior at the time the incident happened.


    Unfortunately, the CCTV at the emergency room entrance couldn¡¯t capture the communication and what was said. To determine the truth, more evidence was needed.


    Jiang Heng had asked what he wanted to know during this visit. He stopped the recording pen, then put it away along with the two sets of documents.


    Both Li Linghua and Liu Qiang¡¯s emotions were unstable at the moment. Jiang Heng had no intention to act as a mediator. He found a chance to leave during this temporary truce between Li Linghua and Liu Qiang.


    Li Nan wanted to escort him to the courtyard gate, but Jiang Heng politely stopped, gesturing for her to stay.


    ¡°Attorney Jiang, regardless of the circumstances, Xiaowen is Li Linghua¡¯s beloved son,¡± Li Nan said, ¡°Please make sure to do your best to hold the one responsible accountable. Get justice for Xiaowen.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°It¡¯s my duty.¡±


    He said this, nodded slightly to Li Nan, and then politely took his leave.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    At 11:30 in the evening, the lights in Guojin Center were still on.


    The office on the 23rd floor facing south was brightly lit, and a thin beam of light sliced through the narrow gap in the door, dividing the tiles outside into two halves.


    Gao Jingyi walked past the public office area, his peripheral vision casually sweeping the corridor beside him, feeling a bit surprised.


    ¡°Is Director Jiang working late tonight?¡± he casually asked the colleague beside him.


    ¡°He just arrived in the evening.¡± The young girl also craned her neck to look inside and said, ¡°He¡¯s been here for a little over two hours.¡±


    Gao Jingyi took in a breath of cold air, unsure whether to praise his dedication or criticize his overzealousness.


    Gao Jingyi said, ¡°Every one of you here is a workaholic. Why do you need to burn the midnight oil for every major case?¡±


    The intern hesitated, not daring to say that he had brought back the wrong documents and had to return to exchange them. Instead, he shifted the blame onto Jiang Heng.


    ¡°It¡¯s about that previous case with Xiao Liu.¡± The intern said, ¡°Mr. Jiang came over after he was discharged from the hospital to ask for some documents.¡±


    Gao Jingyi furrowed his brows and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that just a minor medical dispute case? Is it worth working overtime like this?¡±


    ¡°Not quite.¡± The intern shook his head and lowered his voice carefully, saying, ¡°I have a feeling things have become complicated. When I brought in coffee just now, I saw the general principles of Criminal Law Codification on Mr. Jiang¡¯s desk.¡±

 CH 22

    As Gao Jingyi entered the room, Jiang Heng had just finished his coffee.


    He was seated on the sofa, with two empty file folders tossed beside him. A large array of documents was spread out on the coffee table in front of him. Gao Jingyi glanced at them and noticed a bit of everything.


    The forensic report was placed to his right, and Jiang Heng was slightly hunched over, carefully examining a photo he held in his hand.


    Standing at the door, Gao Jingyi tapped on it with his fingers to signify his presence. Seeing Jiang Heng look up, he shook his head and said, ¡°Why are you working so hard? It¡¯s so late, shouldn¡¯t you be resting?.¡±


    ¡°Working overtime isn¡¯t unusual for me.¡± Jiang Heng casually placed the photo on the coffee table and smiled. ¡°But you coming here at this time is much more unexpected.¡±


    ¡°I came to pick up a contract.¡± Gao Jingyi walked in, lifting the folder he held and swaying it. ¡°I have a flight tomorrow morning at 9:30. I¡¯m heading straight to the airport after.¡±


    ¡°Going to Shenzhen again?¡± Jiang Heng asked. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Li Zong¡¯s matter been resolved yet?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Gao Jingyi said. ¡°The subsidiary company just opened, so everything has to start from scratch.¡±


    He closed the door behind him and walked over, bending to pick up Jiang Heng¡¯s cup. Glancing inside, he furrowed his brow.


    ¡°Still drinking coffee?¡± Gao Jingyi said. ¡°You¡¯ve only been discharged for a few days. Do you want to risk your life?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just one cup,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°The doctor¡¯s orders didn¡¯t say I couldn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°The doctor¡¯s orders also didn¡¯t say you couldn¡¯t drink pesticides,¡± Gao Jingyi said irritably. ¡°Are you drinking that too?¡±


    He immediately took Jiang Heng¡¯s cup and, incidentally, collected all the coffee capsules from his office, stuffing them into the folder as though he were a bandit raiding a rich man¡¯s house.


    Sighing, Jiang Heng pinched the bridge of his nose and said, ¡°Gao Jingyi, you should really consider a career in logistics. You¡¯re concerned about me having a cup of coffee¡ªmaybe I should get you a medal that says ¡®Caring Auntie¡¯.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about your health,¡± Gao Jingyi said, approaching Jiang Heng¡¯s coffee table. He glanced over the documents spread out in front of Jiang Heng, then asked, ¡°Complicated case?¡±


    ¡°Somewhat,¡± Jiang Heng didn¡¯t mince words. He pulled out a loose-leaf notebook page and handed it to Gao Jingyi.


    ¡°Li Wen died from postoperative infection,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°He was an AIDS patient, had been sick for a few years, and was on medication to control it¡ªalthough it seems the medication wasn¡¯t very effective. According to what Li Linghua said, he already had visible symptoms on his skin.¡±


    Gao Jingyi nodded, listening to Jiang Heng and skimming over the notes he had written.


    ¡°Based on the forensic report and Li Wen¡¯s medical history from the private hospital, his CD4 count was very low, fluctuating around one hundred and sixty,¡± Jiang Heng continued. ¡°In principle, this value is not suitable for surgery. If the surgery was absolutely necessary then it had to be strictly controlled.¡±


    ¡°The doctor didn¡¯t make any special arrangements?¡± Gao Jingyi asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    ¡°So, in that case, is it medical negligence? It seems it all depends on whether the dad is telling the truth or not.¡± Gao Jingyi blinked, pointing to the sheet in his hand. ¡°If he¡¯s lying, it¡¯s medical malpractice; the hospital will pay a sum of money, and that¡¯s it. If he¡¯s telling the truth, then it¡¯s about holding the doctor accountable¡ªsimple.¡±


    ¡°The problem is, Li Linghua¡¯s husband¡¯s affair did mention wanting to harm Li Wen in some way a week ago,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°Li Linghua hired a private investigator who secretly looked into this woman and discovered that she had searched online several times about the differences between ¡®negligent homicide and accidental death¡¯ and whether ¡®accidental killing results in prison sentences.''¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not very smart,¡± Gao Jingyi seemed to find this behavior overly direct and foolish, couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°If she had that much time to search on Baidu, she might as well spend some money to consult a lawyer. It¡¯s safer than relying on search websites.¡±


    Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help but smile and continued, ¡°So, Li Linghua believes that Zhou Fang was responsible for Li Wen¡¯s death. She thinks that Zhou Fang conspired with the doctor to take Li Wen¡¯s life.¡±


    As he spoke these words, he subtly furrowed his brows. Gao Jingyi observed his expression, feeling that Jiang Heng didn¡¯t seem very enthusiastic about this.


    ¡ªJiang Heng always had an unusual enthusiasm for his work. Gao Jingyi couldn¡¯t tell whether it was a love for law or a love for his career. The more complex a case, the more intrigued Jiang Heng became. In all the time Gao Jingyi had known him, he¡¯d never seen Jiang Heng troubled by a case. To the extent that he sometimes wondered if Jiang Heng was actually an AI developed by FutureTech, with steel-reinforced cables beneath his clothing.


    Gao Jingyi, finding his lack of enthusiasm unusual, carefully read the documents again, finally noticing a name in the text.


    ¡°Ji, Yao,¡± Gao Jingyi¡¯s gaze lingered on that name for two seconds, faintly sensing something.


    The name wasn¡¯t new to him. When Jiang Heng had returned to the country not too long ago, they had been having a casual drink during their free time. Jiang Heng ended up getting drunk and mentioned this name.


    That had been the first time Gao Jingyi had heard Jiang Heng bring up a person while drunk. At that time, Jiang Heng had seemed to deliberately let himself get drunk, his eyes filled with indescribable emotions. When he mentioned the name, he had been vague, as if wanting to talk about it but also afraid to.


    Gao Jingyi hadn¡¯t quite caught what he said at the time and subconsciously asked again. Jiang Heng had then sat up, writing those two characters on the table.


    ¡°Is this person important?¡± Gao Jingyi had inquired.


    By that point, Jiang Heng, who was already drunk, had looked at the characters on the table for a while. Finally, he reached over and wiped away the characters.


    ¡°It¡¯s someone I shouldn¡¯t think about,¡± he had said.


    What had transpired between them, Gao Jingyi wasn¡¯t entirely sure. But he knew one thing for sure¡ªthis was someone Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t let go of.


    ¡°Ji Yao,¡± Gao Jingyi asked, ¡°Is that the ex-boyfriend you can¡¯t forget?¡±


    Jiang Heng hesitated for a moment, but didn¡¯t refute it. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Serves you right,¡± Gao Jingyi sighed and said, ¡°I told you to stop meddling. I did warn you against picking up cases when you¡¯re still recovering. If you¡¯d said you couldn¡¯t handle it, I would¡¯ve turned down the case.¡±


    ¡°A man can¡¯t admit he can¡¯t handle it,¡± Jiang Heng said, then unconsciously reached for his coffee cup. Realizing it was empty, he tried to cover it up by picking up the nearby forensic report.


    Jiang Heng hadn¡¯t said anything, but Gao Jingyi was already preemptively worrying for him. He looked at the report in his hand and felt like he was holding a hot potato.


    ¡°I think the probability of collusion is low,¡± Gao Jingyi said. ¡°Doctors aren¡¯t close to their patients, they¡¯d have to be crazy to help someone commit murder.¡±


    ¡°The case is quite clear,¡± Gao Jingyi tried to persuade him earnestly. ¡°You know it yourself, these forced ¡®evidences¡¯ mean nothing. Bribery in front of everyone to get a doctor to kill a patient? Not even TV dramas play out like that anymore. As for whether Zhou Fang acted on her thoughts or not, that¡¯s a different case, and it¡¯s not your concern¡ªplus, you know the other party personally, so you should have an idea.¡±


    ¡°What I know personally can stretch from the bottom of this building to the Oriental Pearl Tower. If I show favoritism, then I might as well not be a lawyer,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°There¡¯s a distinction between public and private matters. I know him, but that has nothing to do with Li Linghua¡¯s case.¡±


    Gao Jingyi watched Jiang Heng, his firm stance making Gao Jingyi¡¯s teeth hurt. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°So, what¡¯s your plan? This coincidence seems far-fetched. It probably doesn¡¯t meet the standards for initiating a case, right?¡±


    Gao Jingyi primarily dealt with civil and commercial law, unlike Jiang Heng, who was used to litigating in court. Gao Jingyi¡¯s work mainly involved cooperating with other companies, providing advisory services to help establish their legal frameworks. He wasn¡¯t well-versed in criminal law-related matters, and he admitted that he wasn¡¯t as familiar with these issues as Jiang Heng was.


    ¡°It falls short,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    After a moment, he spoke again, ¡°I¡¯ll advise Li Linghua to charge the other party with medical malpractice.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡± Gao Jingyi said. ¡°Are you serious? Is that even necessary?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve always been serious,¡± Jiang Heng said, looking down with seriousness in his eyes. ¡°Li Linghua wants justice for Li Wen¡¯s death, and I have to provide her with this ¡®justice¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Fine, do as you please.¡± Gao Jingyi said, straightening up and checking his watch. ¡°I have to get up early tomorrow, so I¡¯ll be leaving.¡±


    ¡°Just a moment.¡± Jiang Heng called out to him. ¡°Is Senior Brother in Hong Circle? Which firm? Do you know?¡±


    ¡°You mean Qian Xu? Seems like it. He was transferred to Shanghai last year, I think. I forgot which firm.¡± Gao Jingyi raised an eyebrow. ¡°What are you up to? It¡¯s against the rules for the plaintiff¡¯s lawyer to introduce the defendant¡¯s lawyer.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Jiang Heng pinched his nose and looked a bit unhappy. ¡°Could you arrange a meeting with him for me? I want to treat him to a meal.¡±

 CH 23

    Ji Yao unlocked his phone screen and typed a few lines in the WeChat conversation box that popped up. After some contemplation, he deleted the text again.


    Deleting and typing, he ultimately cleared the conversation box and typed a simple ¡°Alright,¡± then pressed the send button.


    The person on the other end of the conversation seemed to be waiting for his response. The status immediately changed to ¡°Typing,¡± and after a couple of minutes, a file was sent over.


    ¡°It¡¯s a lawyer we¡¯ve been working with for a long time. He¡¯s very reliable and capable. You can rest assured. His contact information is at the end. If you have any questions, you can also contact him.¡±


    Ji Yao stared at the new message that appeared on his screen, feeling a bit amused ¨C it seemed like the phrase ¡°you can rest assured¡± was the most common thing Hao Yu had been telling him lately, making it seem as though he were some child who got startled easily and needed reassuarance.


    ¡°Thank you, Director. There¡¯s nothing to worry about,¡± Ji Yao replied, then added, ¡°When should I return to work?¡±


    ¡°Just resume work as usual,¡± Hao Yu replied, ¡°Or do you want to take a few more days off?¡±


    ¡°No need, I want to get back to work as soon as possible,¡± Ji Yao replied, expressing his gratitude, before contemplating how he could show his appreciation to Director Hao once this matter was resolved ¨C perhaps he¡¯d buy a couple of boxes of large hairy crabs for him.


    He exited the conversation box and opened the file he had just received. The file contained the resume of their hospital¡¯s regular legal consultant, a middle-aged man with the appearance of someone in his forties. He seemed quite capable.


    Ji Yao skimmed through the file briefly and then copied the WeChat ID from the contact information at the bottom. He added the new contact.


    Probably due to the late hour, there was no immediate response from the other side.


    Ji Yao absentmindedly placed his phone on the coffee table and leaned back into the comfortable sofa, taking a sip of his drink.


    The bar¡¯s sound system played bluesy rock music while colorful lights flickered incessantly. The DJ was throwing confetti on stage, and most of the people were dancing and partying near the stage, forming a bustling crowd.


    Ji Yao wasn¡¯t fond of squeezing into such noisy and crowded scenes, and given his current stress due to the impending lawsuit, he couldn¡¯t find any interest in the revelry. He decided that he would finish his drink and head home.


    As he was halfway through his drink, He Xiangyin happened to return from the dance floor ¨C he was like a social butterfly, never staying still, and he had already switched his drink for what seemed like the umpteenth time. He also had two stacks of small notes in his hand.


    Ji Yao glanced at him and said with a chilly tone, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just make up with Aaron? Now you¡¯re out partying again. Be careful, he might get mad if he finds out.¡±


    He Xiangyin and his partner Aaron were practically in a love-hate relationship. Breaking up and getting back together countless times, their fights often led to smashed glasses and broken water jugs. Ji Yao couldn¡¯t understand what their deal was.


    Is torturing each other an addiction? Ji Yao wondered.


    ¡°Whatever, we don¡¯t feel right if we¡¯re not fighting,¡± He Xiangyin casually waved his hand, then tapped Ji Yao¡¯s shoulder with one of the stacks of notes, saying, ¡°Here, these are for No. 0.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want them,¡± Ji Yao replied, unenthusiastically.


    ¡°This one, though.¡± He Xiangyin expertly pulled out a card from the stack, sprayed with perfume and colored purple. He wiggled it in front of Ji Yao, ¡°From the bar counter, definitely not a soft 0. I¡¯d say around 182cm tall, looks good, seems to be a financial consultant ¨C seems like he¡¯s interested in you.¡±


    As soon as He Xiangyin¡¯s words fell, perhaps due to coincidence, a waiter walked over holding a tray, placing a drink in front of Ji Yao.


    ¡°A Mojito.¡± The waiter said. ¡°Enjoy.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t order a drink.¡± Ji Yao said.


    ¡°That drink is from that gentleman.¡± The waiter said, pointing towards the bar.


    A man in casual attire sitting at the bar, with a sparkling diamond watch on his wrist, smiled and raised his glass towards Ji Yao. Clearly, this was the ¡°financial consultant¡± He Xiangyin had mentioned.


    If Ji Yao were in a better mood, he might have been interested in chatting for a bit. However, he had just seen Jiang Heng a few hours ago, and seeing a man with this kind of style gave him a headache.


    Plus, he was in a bad mood, feeling sour, bitter, and irritable. He had no intention of engaging in any flirtatious activities.


    ¡°Take it back to him.¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°I don¡¯t drink this type of alcohol.¡±


    The waiter looked puzzled, glanced towards the bar area hesitantly, then smiled cautiously, saying, ¡°The drink has already been paid for and settled, so you don¡¯t have to pay for it.¡±


    Ji Yao furrowed his brow. His temper and patience were far from what his mild and harmless appearance suggested. He glared at the unfamiliar man across the crowd and saw that he had no intention of backing down. Ji Yao reached out and grabbed the glass, then turned his wrist and spilled the drink on the ground.


    The man¡¯s face immediately turned ugly.


    He probably hadn¡¯t expected Ji Yao to be so impolite. Seemingly feeling embarrassed, he shot Ji Yao a glare before getting up and leaving.


    He Xiangyin clicked his tongue and shook his head against the table, saying, ¡°I wanted to find you some fun to change your mood.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got an ongoing lawsuit hanging over my head.¡± Ji Yao said irritably. ¡°With my luck, I might have been working in vain for these years. Given that, I don¡¯t even have the mood to find a new fling. I¡¯m already reckless enough.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you said the opposing lawyer is your ex-boyfriend, right?¡± He Xiangyin offered some bad advice tentatively, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask him to go easy on you¡ª if that won¡¯t work, just pay some money. It¡¯s better than taking responsibility.¡±


    He Xiangyin had called him out for a drink just hours after he got back from the hospital. Seeing Ji Yao wasn¡¯t in a good mood, he prodded and poked for a long time before getting to the ¡°hidden story.¡±


    He remembered when he said Ji Yao ¡°couldn¡¯t handle him¡± at the bar before. Who would have thought he had already used it himself.


    ¡°You want me to approach him?¡± Ji Yao pursed his lips, a cold smile forming at the corner of his mouth. ¡°That¡¯s the last thing I want to do.¡±


    ¡°Heh¡­¡± He Xiangyin winced and took a deep breath, then hesitated before asking, ¡°Don¡¯t be too pessimistic. Mainly, whose fault was it when you two broke up back then? If he was in the wrong, maybe he would feel guilty and would be willing to go easy on you.¡±


    He Xiangyin¡¯s question pierced something like a needle, causing Ji Yao¡¯s emotions to crumble. He held onto the drink glass tightly, unable to speak.


    Self-deception, whitewashing the truth¡ªthere were some things that couldn¡¯t be deeply explored or admitted; otherwise, once a certain balance was shattered, uncontrollable and adverse consequences could easily result.


    For these many years, Ji Yao deliberately avoided thinking about Jiang Heng and those three years. He thought he had already let go, but He Xiangyin¡¯s casual question had shattered his emotional defenses. He couldn¡¯t continue to ignore the past so bluntly anymore.


    Ji Yao¡¯s knuckles holding the drink glass turned slightly pale. He remained silent, finishing the remaining half of the drink in one gulp.


    The ice-cold, strong liquor burned down his throat, and after a brief chill, it was followed by a fiery sensation. Ji Yao was scorched by the sensation, and he instinctively loosened his collar.


    After a while, he suddenly smiled inexplicably.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± he said.

 CH 24

    If he could go back in time, Ji Yao probably wouldn¡¯t have taken that step.


    Throughout a person¡¯s life, it¡¯s impossible to break free from shackles. Freedom has limitations, the sky has an end, and one¡¯s life is bound by invisible factors¡ªbirth, family, upbringing, and the countless choices made in the past¡ªall of these factors shape a complete person and then confine the concept of an ¡°individual¡± to a certain logical pathway.


    Generation after generation, the cycle repeats.


    Few people can escape the cage, go against their instincts and habits, and choose a different path.


    Ever since Ji Yao¡¯s parents somehow heard some rumors, they had become increasingly concerned about Ji Yao.


    Ji Yao moving out of the school wasn¡¯t a secret. His professor and his father were friends; they often played golf together and talked about Ji Yao¡¯s recent situation.


    His parents were very concerned about Ji Yao¡¯s ¡°abnormal behavior.¡± They had asked him a few times, and Ji Yao had only said that his dorm mates coming and going late at night disturbed his rest, so he had rented a place with a classmate outside school.


    This answer clearly wasn¡¯t enough to convince his parents, but at that time, Ji Yao¡¯s studies were at a crucial stage. So, his father and mother didn¡¯t say anything, nor did they delve deep into finding out who that ¡°classmate¡± really was.


    It was quite funny; they were afraid of Ji Yao¡¯s sexual orientation, fearing that the rumors might turn into reality. They couldn¡¯t resist trying to uncover his hidden life. But after trying time and time again and failing, they didn¡¯t have the courage to directly ask him about it. It was as if they were afraid of poking a hole, giving Ji Yao a sudden realization.


    A fragile balance was maintained between them, both carefully hiding their thoughts.


    The only difference was that as time went on, Ji Yao¡¯s parents contacted him more and more frequently and racked their brains to find ways to make him return home.


    Sometimes they would claim to be sick and not feeling well, sometimes they had social engagements, sometimes relatives were visiting, and they needed their child to come back and meet them¡ªThese fragmented, vague reasons became their way of probing Ji Yao, gradually encroaching on every aspect of his life.


    ¡°¡­ Leaving again?¡±


    Jiang Heng pressed Ji Yao against the floor-to-ceiling window, nibbling on his earlobe softly, his voice somewhat muffled, ¡°What¡¯s the matter this time?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, they didn¡¯t say,¡± Ji Yao said uncomfortably, shifting his shoulder, but Jiang Heng pressed him tighter, causing him to give up struggling. He leaned against the cold glass, almost his entire body sticking to it, ¡°My mom just said it¡¯s urgent.¡±


    Jiang Heng chuckled softly, his lips following Ji Yao¡¯s earlobe down, leaving light kisses on his neck.


    Ji Yao was ticklish. Subconsciously, he tilted his head to the side, accidentally putting himself in Jiang Heng¡¯s grasp.


    ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t leave a mark,¡± Ji Yao said.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Heng pinched his waist and said, ¡°Is there not enough here already?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave any on my neck. My parents might see it,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°You can mark anywhere else.¡±


    Jiang Heng laughed again, then lightly nibbled on his earlobe as if in punishment. Ji Yao hissed, afraid Jiang Heng would leave bite marks on him that others might see. He struggled out of his embrace, walking to the inner room to change.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t follow him, instead, he crossed his arms and leaned against the glass window.


    ¡°Do you have to go back?¡± Jiang Heng said, a smile that wasn¡¯t really a smile on his lips, ¡°There might not be anything urgent, actually.¡±


    Though he was smiling, Ji Yao could tell that he was actually a bit unhappy.


    It wasn¡¯t surprising; Jiang Heng had just finished a case. They had planned to go to a hot spring in the outskirts of Beijing two days later. Now that their plans were disrupted, it seemed he was going to stand Jiang Heng up again.


    This wasn¡¯t the first time; ever since Ji Yao¡¯s parents began calling him back for various reasons, Ji Yao¡¯s plans had been disrupted numerous times. One or two times might not matter, but after a dozen or twenty times, it was normal for Jiang Heng to be unhappy.


    To be honest, Jiang Heng¡¯s patience in bringing it up now was quite impressive.


    Actually, Ji Yao knew that his mother¡¯s ¡°urgent matter¡± might end up being trivial, just some petty excuse they had conjured up. However, despite this, he couldn¡¯t refuse.


    ¡°What if it¡¯s really something this time?¡± Ji Yao, without letting on, avoided Jiang Heng¡¯s gaze, turned his head, and zipped up his jacket, ¡°I¡¯m just going back to check on them.¡±


    Jiang Heng had anticipated that he would say that and didn¡¯t appear surprised.


    He could tell that Ji Yao was still the same as before¡ªa kitten before his parents, not saying anything, just rebelling behind their backs.


    His mind desperately wanted to go against his parents¡¯ control, but in the end, it was still restrained by invisible threads, like an elephant in the circus tethered by a thin iron chain.


    As they spoke, Ji Yao had already finished getting dressed and walked out of the bedroom. He hesitated for a moment between leaving and turned to look at Jiang Heng.


    Jiang Heng generously provided him with a way out, indicating that he wasn¡¯t actually angry about this small matter.


    He spread open his arms, making a hugging gesture.


    Ji Yao walked over after placing the half-packed luggage to the side and hugged him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you next time, okay?¡± Ji Yao said.


    Jiang Heng seemed a bit surprised by him saying that, his eyes slightly widening.


    But soon, he recovered from his surprise and smiled warmly.


    ¡°How about coming back earlier this time?¡± Jiang Heng said.


    As he said this, as if he was a bit thirsty, he casually reached out to the small table on the balcony and picked up a small dark blue starry sky cup.


    Two cups were side by side on the table, and Jiang Heng¡¯s gaze was still Ji Yao. Unaware of what he had picked up, he didn¡¯t notice until he was about to take a sip that he had mistakenly taken Ji Yao¡¯s cup.


    However, Jiang Heng wasn¡¯t particularly fussy, he hesitated for a moment, and then, without much thought, naturally took a sip.


    In that moment, Ji Yao finally, belatedly realized that he and Jiang Heng had been entangled for too long. They had become so intertwined that they shared personal spaces, social circles, and their lives.


    The wardrobe in the bedroom was divided in two¡ªhalf for his clothes, half for Jiang Heng¡¯s. In the bathroom, kitchen, and on the dining table, all the utensils were for two people. No matter who came to look, they could tell that they had formed a miniature ¡°family.¡±


    At this moment, in this not-so-big house, their lives had become deeply connected.


    He couldn¡¯t quite put into words how he felt. Countless complex and hidden emotions gathered within him, finally turning into a seed.


    ¡°¡­ Okay,¡± Ji Yao said.

 CH 25

    When Ji Yao arrived home, he sensed a heavy atmosphere in the house.


    His father was tending to the goldfish in the living room, while his mother sat in silence in the dining room. Approaching mealtime, there was no aroma of food in the house. Ji Yao glanced into the kitchen and noticed cold stovetops and pans, with the spice containers untouched.


    Ji Yao understood the situation, and he silently took off his shoes, hung his coat on the coat rack by the door, smoothed the collar, and made sure both sleeves were on the same horizontal line.


    The atmosphere inside was stifling and heavy, but Ji Yao wasn¡¯t surprised. Since he could remember, the household had often been in this state.


    His maternal grandfather was a renowned mathematician with strict household rules. Even the movement of the children in the house was regulated. Over time, Ji Yao¡¯s mother had developed a strict personality as well.


    From Ji Yao¡¯s earliest memories, there had been a set of ¡°rules¡± in the house.


    For instance, towels had to be folded into thirds before hanging; toothbrushes had to be placed with the bristles facing up and on the right side; toothpaste couldn¡¯t be left in the cup for rinsing; the fish food bag had to be placed with the label facing inwards; the lid of the trash can always had to be covered with a dust cloth, and so on.


    When Ji Yao was a child, he often got scolded for these matters. Sometimes it was because he hadn¡¯t placed the dust cloth perfectly flat over the garbage, and other times it was because he had left his books and stationery on the table instead of putting them back on the shelf¡ªeven if he had just gone to the living room for a glass of water, he would immediately go back.


    For his mother, every detail of the house had rules that needed to be followed. If someone broke a rule, it meant they didn¡¯t pay enough attention to her, and she would become furious.


    These rules were trivial and complicated, forming a unique system. They were like fine threads that entwined every corner of the house, ultimately converging onto Ji Yao. They wrapped around him gently and snugly, gradually tightening, leaving him no room to breathe.


    Ji Yao¡¯s father was an accomplished scholar and a typical patriarch who believed in the division of gender roles¡ªmen as providers, women as homemakers. He generally didn¡¯t involve himself in the minutiae of household matters. However, not being involved didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t care. He often forgot his wife¡¯s habits and rules, repeatedly making the same mistakes. Every time this happened, Ji Yao¡¯s mother would become angry, accusing his father of not taking her words to heart.


    Both of them were strong-willed individuals, so this fire often ended up directed at Ji Yao. As a young child, he had to step in for his father to soothe his mother, trying hard to prove that he would always heed her words.


    This cycle had repeated for more than twenty years, and Ji Yao had long grown used to it.


    He pretended not to notice his bickering parents, changed his shoes, entered the house, and greeted both his father and mother separately.


    Ji Yao¡¯s mother rubbed her reddened eyes, avoiding bringing up her disagreement with his father. She simply said, ¡°We¡¯ll have dinner a bit later today. If you¡¯re hungry, you can have some cookies on the sofa.¡±


    ¡°Mom,¡± Ji Yao didn¡¯t move, ¡°you said on the phone that there was an urgent matter. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    His mother pursed her lips and said, ¡°Your Uncle Li is back from out of town, and they want our family of three to have dinner together.¡±


    Sure enough, Ji Yao thought the so-called ¡°urgent matter¡± was just another excuse to deceive him, not much different from before.


    Suddenly, Ji Yao remembered the partially packed suitcase, and he felt uneasy.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Ji Yao couldn¡¯t help but speak softly, ¡°does this really count as an urgent matter?¡±


    ¡°Your Uncle Li arranged dinner for seven o¡¯clock,¡± his mother intentionally misinterpreted his meaning and pointed at the wall clock, ¡°We¡¯ll need to leave in about an hour.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about that¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then what were you talking about?¡± His father¡¯s voice came from the living room. Ji Yao turned to look at him, having put down the small net used for the fish tank, looking at him with a nonchalant expression.


    ¡°Go talk to your dad,¡± his mother said in a low voice, ¡°don¡¯t make him angry.¡±


    The words Ji Yao wanted to say were cut off. He pursed his lips and didn¡¯t say anything more, turning to head towards the living room.


    His father brushed off the dust from his hands, cast a sidelong glance at Ji Yao, snorted disapprovingly, and then turned to sit on the couch.


    Ji Yao quietly wiped the small fishing net dry and placed it back on the shelf next to the fish tank. In passing, he flipped the fish food bag, hiding the label behind where it couldn¡¯t be seen.


    ¡°If your mom didn¡¯t call you, were you not planning to come back?¡± His father said in an unpleasant tone.


    ¡°¡­No.¡± Ji Yao didn¡¯t dare sit down. He obediently stood across the coffee table. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy lately.¡±


    If his mother¡¯s discipline was an impenetrable net, his father was a blunt tool. From childhood to adulthood, Ji Yao¡¯s education, school choices, and daily life were all arranged according to his father¡¯s wishes.


    Sometimes Ji Yao felt that under this roof, he had no freedom.


    He was like a beast unknowingly trapped in the mud, seeing that it was about to cross the forest, but unknowingly, it had already suffered a catastrophe.


    ¡°You¡¯re busy, I know that,¡± his father took a cigarette from the pack and lit it, saying casually, ¡°By the way, I want to talk to you about something. You¡¯ll be graduating next year, and you should also move out of that apartment. It¡¯s a good time to move back home. That way, you won¡¯t have to run around all the time.¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s complexion turned slightly pale.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t agree when you moved out before, but your mom said you were busy with your studies at the time, and you were growing up. She asked me not to be too strict. I considered it, so I let you be,¡± his father said. ¡°But in another half a year, when you¡¯re done with your research project, you¡¯ll need to officially start at the hospital. It might be inconvenient to stay with your classmates then.¡±


    His father seemed to be discussing it, but his tone was firm, carrying a sense of superiority.


    Ji Yao was all too familiar with this attitude. It meant his father had already made up his mind and was just informing him.


    However, Ji Yao thought of the half-packed suitcase and summoned a bit of courage to resist for the first time in his life.


    Until now, he had resisted countless times in his heart, but he had never had the courage to voice his opposition.


    ¡°¡­I think living outside is good,¡± Ji Yao said softly, ¡°I¡¯m grown up now, and I don¡¯t want to burden the family.¡±


    His father seemed surprised by his retort, widening his eyes. A hint of anger appeared on his face.


    His mother hurried over from the dining room as Ji Yao spoke back. Afraid that his father would get angry and start yelling, she grabbed Ji Yao¡¯s arm and forcefully joined the conversation.


    ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s talk about this later. Let¡¯s get ready to go out,¡± his mother said, turning to Ji Yao, ¡°Your Uncle Li¡¯s daughter is here today. She¡¯s a graduate student at North Science University, just a year younger than you. You two should have plenty to talk about.¡±


    So, that¡¯s the reason for the ¡°urgent matter,¡± Ji Yao thought, no wonder it was called that.


    As evening approached, the sky outside darkened, making Ji Yao feel stifled.


    Under normal circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t mind going along with his parents¡¯ wishes to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. But at this moment, perhaps due to the pressure of his promise with Jiang Heng, Ji Yao felt the need to push back a bit.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Ji Yao said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t want to go.¡±


    ¡°Say that again?¡± His mother widened her eyes, asking.


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t want to go,¡± Ji Yao repeated.


    His mother¡¯s expression changed, and she stared fixedly at Ji Yao¡¯s face. Her chest rose and fell heavily for a moment.


    His father sneered and said, ¡°Look at your good son, he¡¯s grown wings.¡±


    His mother couldn¡¯t argue back. She was choked up, her gaze drifted around the room, and finally fixed on the coffee table.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you a thousand times that you need to wet the tissue paper in the ashtray before putting the cigarette out?¡± His mother suddenly raised her voice.


    ¡°I did put it there!¡± His father retorted, not willing to be outdone, ¡°Why are you so nitpicky?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s tea on there!¡± His mother couldn¡¯t accept it. ¡°I told you a million times, tea won¡¯t do, use clean water!¡±


    That piece of tissue that wasn¡¯t dampened with clean water seemed to become the last straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. Her emotions suddenly broke down, and she stomped her feet twice in anger.


    ¡°You¡¯ve never taken my words to heart! Neither of you ever listens to me!¡± His mother covered her face, sobbing, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have married you, Ji Kangyuan! Look at you, you never remember what I say, even if I argue a million times, you¡¯re both useless! All I wanted was to live a peaceful life like a normal person, to walk through life calmly without any storms or waves! Have I offended anyone? Are my demands too much!¡±


    She emphasized the word ¡°normal,¡± and Ji Yao could hear that she wasn¡¯t just scolding his father but also venting her frustration at him.


    They both knew each other¡¯s sensitive areas, but neither had the courage to be the first to say that sentence. It was as if, if that topic wasn¡¯t brought up, they could avoid facing that reality.


    Ji Yao suddenly felt suffocated.


    He felt powerless and pained, urgently needing to escape this net. He would do anything to avoid this situation.


    Based on his experience of over twenty years, if he compromised now, he could escape all the pain.


    ¡°¡­Mom, please don¡¯t cry,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the dinner, is that okay?¡±


    His mother¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and Ji Yao didn¡¯t want to see the expressions on his parents¡¯ faces. He lowered his head silently, taking a step back.


    ¡°I¡¯ll change my clothes again,¡± he said.


    Without waiting for a response from his parents, he turned back into his room, closing the door behind him.


    He leaned against the door, covering his eyes with his hand.


    Ji Yao¡¯s mind was in chaos. He didn¡¯t want to meet the so-called ¡°Uncle Li¡¯s daughter,¡± yet he couldn¡¯t resist his parents. After a while, he exhaled heavily, took out his phone from his pocket, and dialed Jiang Heng¡¯s number.


    ¡°The phone you dialed is currently in a call. Please try again later¡ª¡±


    The number he usually reached easily didn¡¯t connect this time. Ji Yao paused for a moment, and although he was about to redial, he suddenly remembered what Jiang Heng had said before they parted.


    ¡°Come home early.¡± Jiang Heng had said.


    The word ¡°home¡± seemed to burn Ji Yao¡¯s heart. He instinctively disconnected the call and turned off the phone, avoiding the situation.

 CH 26

    Since he was young, Ji Yao had known that as long as he compromised, he could attain temporary peace.


    He understood that this was similar to quenching his thirst with poison, but he had no choice. He lacked the ability to confront conflicts directly and the courage to change the situation.


    Because he had grown up in this ¡°swamp¡± from an early age, this environment not only brought him pain but also provided him with the nourishment of life.


    ¡ªThis was the place he relied on for survival.


    Around the dining table, both sets of parents exchanged toasts, the atmosphere was lively, and they recounted amusing stories from their youth until the present, as if there were countless topics.


    Ji¡¯s mother wore an elegant light blue shawl. When she spoke with enthusiasm and couldn¡¯t contain her laughter, she instinctively leaned against Ji¡¯s father beside her, using a corner of the shawl to cover her mouth.


    Ji¡¯s father teased her a couple of times with a smile, and Ji¡¯s mother playfully patted his shoulder.


    They appeared so affectionate that one could hardly believe they had been in a heated argument just two hours ago over a tissue.


    Ji Yao silently filled his drink and sat quietly on the side like a decorative vase, showing no interest in engaging in the conversation.


    His father seemed a bit dissatisfied with his silence and called him to pick up food and offer a toast several times. Ji Yao complied each time. Meanwhile, the so-called ¡°Uncle Li¡± intervened to ease the tension and complimented him with words like ¡°talented youth¡± and ¡°outstanding individual.¡±


    ¡°Look how well Uncle Li treats you,¡± Ji¡¯s father clicked his tongue and scanned him with his eyes, saying, ¡°Well, If you two are done eating, go for a stroll outside. This street is quite lively. We¡¯ll call you when we¡¯re done.¡±


    Ji Yao wasn¡¯t surprised. For the adults at the table, this statement was the ¡°main topic¡± of the meal.


    In front of others, Ji Yao obediently played the role of a good son. He politely stood up and nodded to the young lady across from him, then took the lead and walked out.


    He gently closed the door, and he could still hear indistinct conversation behind him.


    ¡°Ah, young people always have topics to talk about,¡± Ji¡¯s father¡¯s voice sounded, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree they could go out separately?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Uncle Li followed with a laugh, ¡°We old folks can¡¯t keep up with young people¡¯s conversations.¡±


    As they spoke, Uncle Li¡¯s daughter also walked out of the private room, casually closing the door behind her, isolating the laughter inside within that small space.


    Ji Yao had no interest in blind dates and had no desire to get to know this stranger. For him, this meal was simply a task to fulfill for his parents.


    He and the young lady walked through the lobby one after the other, finally reaching the street outside. Ji Yao looked left and right, considering following his father¡¯s suggestion to take a leisurely walk. However, he heard the girl behind him calling out to him.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re Ji Yao, right?¡± the girl said, ¡°I¡¯m Li Tingting.¡±


    Li Tingting wasn¡¯t a friend in Ji Yao¡¯s circle, so he couldn¡¯t act cold towards her. He politely stopped and turned his head to nod at her.


    Li Tingting was lively and quite friendly. After looking around for a moment, she hopped over to a nearby ice cream shop, ordered two servings of ice cream, and handed a bowl to Ji Yao.


    Ji Yao took a step back and politely declined.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ji Yao said gently, ¡°My parents have their intentions but unfortunately I don¡¯t have that thought at the moment.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Li Tingting said nonchalantly, ¡°Coincidentally, I don¡¯t either¡ªhonestly, I have a boyfriend.¡±


    Ji Yao was taken aback, clearly not expecting her to have a boyfriend and still come out for a blind date.


    Li Tingting then extended the ice cream bowl towards Ji Yao again. He hesitated for a moment but this time accepted it.


    ¡°Strolling around is tiring, let¡¯s just talk.¡± Li Tingting looked left and right. She sat down on the sidewalk under a row of trees and patted the empty spot next to her.


    Ji Yao pursed his lips, walked over, and sat down beside her.


    ¡°You said you have a boyfriend?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Li Tingting admitted candidly, ¡°But my parents don¡¯t agree and are trying to make us break up.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°And you?¡± Li Tingting asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to go on blind dates?¡±


    ¡°No specific reason. I just don¡¯t want to maintain long-term intimate relationships with anyone,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°I don¡¯t trust such relationships.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Li Tingting tilted her head, saying, ¡°Have you been hurt before?¡±


    ¡°No, I just think it¡¯s unnecessary,¡± Ji Yao said softly, ¡°Even people with blood relations can¡¯t understand each other, let alone strangers. Two unrelated individuals bound by a fragile ¡®label,¡¯ clinging to emotions that may disappear at any moment, facing the trivialities of the next few decades. Just thinking about it feels like a disaster.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense too,¡± Li Tingting agreed with a nod, ¡°Anyway, no matter what, you don¡¯t have to worry. Let¡¯s sit here for a while, and then I¡¯ll leave first. I¡¯ll tell my dad that I didn¡¯t find you suitable because I think being a doctor will keep you too busy in the future. This way, you won¡¯t have to explain much.¡±


    Li Tingting seemed experienced in dealing with blind dates; she appeared more knowledgeable than Ji Yao. Ji Yao felt it was alright, so he nodded and agreed.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°No problem, you¡¯re welcome,¡± Li Tingting waved her hand, grinning as she handed the empty bowl forward, saying, ¡°So it¡¯s a deal!¡±


    Ji Yao nodded and clinked his bowl against hers.


    As they were conversing, a sudden, piercing screech of brakes resounded from not far away on the road. Both of them turned their heads to see a black commercial vehicle with out-of-town license plates abruptly light up its red warning lights.


    This was a main road, not far from the highway to the airport. The traffic was heavy, and the vehicle in question decelerated suddenly, causing the car behind to almost collide with it.


    The driver of the car behind was furious, rolling down the window to unleash a barrage of curses. However, the car in front remained still. It soon started again and merged back into the traffic.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that driver?¡± Li Tingting grumbled, ¡°So scary.¡±


    ¡°Probably drunk driving; this street has quite a few restaurants,¡± Ji Yao didn¡¯t pay much attention, ¡°There are police checkpoints on the two streets ahead. They¡¯ll probably be caught.¡±


    ¡°Ah, not important,¡± Li Tingting handed Ji Yao the empty ice cream bowl, chuckling mischievously, ¡°Could you throw this away for me? I¡¯m leaving to watch a late movie with my boyfriend.¡±


    Li Tingting was spirited and lively, and she was off in a flash before she even finished her sentence, running to the side of the road to hail a cab.


    However, halfway there, it seemed she remembered something and turned back to Ji Yao, wagging her finger.


    ¡°By the way, friendly advice,¡± Li Tingting said, ¡°Not all blind date candidates are as easy to talk to as I am. If you¡¯re not interested, either convince your parents or find a solution once and for all.¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s mind stirred, but before he could ask, Li Tingting had already caught a cab and left.


    So, Ji Yao sat back on the curb, holding the cold ice cream bowl, lost in thought. He took out his phone from his pocket and pressed the power button.


    As soon as the phone turned on, several messages appeared on the screen¡ªtwo missed calls and a few unread WeChat messages, all from Jiang Heng.


    Ji Yao checked the time and noticed that one of the missed calls was a response to his previous call, and the other had come an hour ago.


    His mind was in turmoil now, with his parents and Jiang Heng all tangled up, making him uncomfortable and irritable no matter where he turned or what he thought about.


    He didn¡¯t know what the future held, but he felt as though he were standing at a crucial crossroads, facing a decision that required utmost caution.


    Ji Yao was lost in thought when his phone suddenly vibrated again. He looked down and realized it was another call from Jiang Heng.


    His heart trembled, and he felt a sudden pang of guilt.


    Because Ji Yao had a premonition¡ªhis promise of ¡°coming home early¡± probably wouldn¡¯t be fulfilled. This time, his parents seemed unyielding and well-prepared. They had likely decided to resolve the ¡°bomb¡± before his graduation, and were even prepared for a battle.


    A surge of panic rose within Ji Yao, as if everything in the world had spun out of control overnight, and he was utterly helpless.


    He didn¡¯t know how to face Jiang Heng, so he decided to avoid it altogether. With gritted teeth, he stared at the phone screen for a while, then finally pressed the ¡°end call¡± button.

 CH 27

    Without ¡°Uncle Li,¡± there would still be various daughters, nieces, and cousins from the families of ¡°Uncle Wang,¡± ¡°Uncle Liu,¡± and so on.


    As long as Ji Yao¡¯s parents¡¯ goals weren¡¯t achieved, there would always be countless traps waiting for him in the future.


    Ji Yao knew that if he wanted to completely escape these troubles, he needed a definitive solution.


    Ji Yao had about half a year left until graduation, and his parents probably heard the news that he had finished his thesis and chose to confront him at this time.


    After that night, Jiang Heng didn¡¯t call again. He just sent a ¡°Good morning¡± message before heading to work the next morning, as per usual.


    Seeing that Jiang Heng didn¡¯t bring up the topic of returning home, Ji Yao felt a bit less pressured, and he sent a few emojis in response, indicating that he might be busy for a while.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t say much, just told him to take care of himself.


    Ji Yao appreciated his lack of further questioning. At least at this point, Jiang Heng¡¯s usual thoughtfulness and accommodation gave him some breathing room.


    Following his parents¡¯ wishes, Ji Yao temporarily moved back home and played the role of their good son.


    Ji Yao knew where his parents¡¯ concerns lay. For them, the worst fear was that their son might be gay. All he had to do was prove that he wasn¡¯t gay, and his parents would naturally start doubting the authenticity of the rumors.


    Ji Yao had never been in a relationship at school and didn¡¯t quite understand how these rumors spread to his parents. Nevertheless, he secretly observed for a few days and the only thing he could be sure of was that his parents had no evidence and couldn¡¯t be certain whether the rumors were true or false.


    So, while they felt miserable, they had no confidence to confront him about it. They could only pick on him about unrelated matters from time to time, while trying to quickly arrange his marriage.


    This wasn¡¯t difficult for Ji Yao to handle. He had been through these situations countless times since he was young. Since the rebellious factor started growing inside him, he learned how to comply on the surface while resisting secretly.


    Ji Yao knew that to deal with his parents, all he had to do was give them what they wanted, show them what they wanted to see. As for the truth, no one really cared.


    Once he got past this hurdle, he just needed to be a bit more cautious and hide more carefully, and no one would know.


    He compromised, yielded, and let his parents achieve their goals. This matter could end easily. Ji¡¯s parents would get a well-behaved son, and Ji Yao would get peace and tranquility.


    He had done this many times before, and this time was no different.


    However, he was so busy dealing with his parents at home that he somewhat neglected Jiang Heng.


    At first, they met once a week, but the time spent together wasn¡¯t long, and they mostly met outside. Ji Yao had his own concerns, and he hadn¡¯t noticed that Jiang Heng seemed to be getting quieter during their time together.


    Gradually, their meetings became rushed and perfunctory. At first, they met once a week, then it became once every ten days.


    Ji Yao had so many trivial matters to handle that he didn¡¯t realize what was missing until he felt something was off in his life. By the time he realized it, it had been four days since he last spoke to Jiang Heng.


    The most recent message on WeChat was from four days ago. They had casually chatted about school-related matters, but then one of them got busy, and the conversation abruptly ended with a ¡°Wait for me¡± message, with no follow-up.


    This was rare. Since Ji Yao and Jiang Heng started their relationship, Jiang Heng rarely disappeared without saying a word. His phone was always accessible, even when he was busy, he would still find time to exchange a few words with Ji Yao, sometimes just a simple ¡°Good morning¡± or ¡°Good night,¡± sometimes about work or things happening in his life.


    To have gone more than three days without a message, Ji Yao had never experienced that before.


    However, with the approach of the New Year, everything was piling up, and Ji Yao didn¡¯t think too much about it. He felt that the law firm was swamped with work and Jiang Heng probably couldn¡¯t find time.


    Ji Yao fiddled with his phone and stared at the profile picture on WeChat. He felt a bit guilty, more or less.


    He had been so busy lately, busy to the point where he didn¡¯t even fulfill the promised ¡°conditions¡± to compensate Jiang Heng, let alone spend quality time together.


    This relationship had come to this point, and it felt a bit absurd, Ji Yao thought.


    Fortunately, during the month Ji Yao spent at home, his efforts to appease his parents had yielded results. His parents were slowly starting to believe that he wasn¡¯t a rebellious homosexual. Their control over him wasn¡¯t as strict as before.


    His mother, in particular, seemed more relaxed. Sometimes, she even urged him to go out and have fun, not to stay cooped up at home all the time.


    Approaching Christmas, shops¡¯ windows were already adorned with stickers of Santa Claus and colorful lights. Tall Christmas trees stood in front of malls, and promotional signs for Christmas lucky draws had been put up.


    Ji Yao flipped through his chat history with Jiang Heng, noticing that their frequency of communication had significantly decreased over the past month. They hadn¡¯t even mentioned celebrating their birthdays.


    Ji Yao¡¯s birthday was half a month before Jiang Heng¡¯s, conveniently falling on Christmas Day. So, they had decided to celebrate together on that day, every year.


    Christmas was just two days away. After dinner, Ji Yao came up with a random excuse to go out, planning to surprise Jiang Heng when he returned from work.


    He first went to pick up the cake, then took a taxi to the place where he and Jiang Heng lived. On the way, he sent Jiang Heng a WeChat message, telling him to come home earlier if he was working late.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t reply, Ji Yao wasn¡¯t sure if he hadn¡¯t seen the message or if he was busy.


    Ji Yao hadn¡¯t been home for a while. He felt a bit nervous as he climbed the stairs and kept feeling for his keys several times. In the end, he just clenched the keys in his hand.


    He rehearsed what he wanted to say in his mind, planning to pamper Jiang Heng a bit during this opportunity and then engage in passionate intimacy to make up for the physical affection he owed him.


    Ji Yao had planned it all out, but as soon as he opened the door, he saw a pair of relatively new white sneakers at the entrance.


    The sneakers were casually thrown on the floor and were adorned with intricate and extravagant hand-painted patterns, clearly not Jiang Heng¡¯s style.


    And they weren¡¯t even his size.


    Ji Yao furrowed his brows slightly and entered the apartment. He saw the bathroom light was on, steam forming on the frosted glass, outlining a blurry figure.


    The bedroom door was open, and Jiang Heng, wearing only a thin pajama, was leaning against the bed. He seemed to have heard the door and turned his head towards it.


    Ji Yao clearly saw that Jiang Heng¡¯s gaze momentarily froze as he looked at him, as if he hadn¡¯t expected Ji Yao to appear at this moment.


    Ji Yao¡¯s heart stung at that instant of Jiang Heng¡¯s raised eyebrows. Suddenly, he felt that his previous guilt was all a joke. While he was busy dealing with his parents and thinking about how to compensate Jiang Heng, Jiang Heng had been messing around.


    True, Ji Yao thought, he didn¡¯t need me to make it up to him. He could easily find entertainment.


    ¡°I don¡¯t do threesomes, you know? Did you plan this without telling me?¡± The stranger¡¯s words brought Ji Yao back to reality.


    Ji Yao¡¯s gaze moved from the stranger to Jiang Heng, and he smiled coolly, letting out a faint chuckle.


    Jiang Heng finally snapped out of his daze, and he smiled meaningfully, reaching for his cigarette pack, lighting one and taking a drag. Then, he gestured towards the stranger, ¡°You can leave now.¡±


    ¡°What? Seriously?¡± The stranger was displeased. ¡°So, I took a shower for nothing¡ª¡±


    He seemed like he wanted to say more, but Jiang Heng¡¯s suddenly cold gaze intimidated him. He grumbled a couple of words and hurriedly went to the bathroom to change, leaving a trail of wet footprints behind him.


    The door opened and closed, and Ji Yao¡¯s control over his patience finally snapped. He tossed the cake box aside.


    ¡°Is there something you want to say?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°I have nothing to say.¡± Jiang Heng replied.


    ¡°To be honest, some things don¡¯t need to be so ugly.¡± Ji Yao¡¯s lips curled in a cold smile. A blazing fire was burning within him, consuming his reason. ¡°You could have told me earlier, and we could have parted ways peacefully instead of me worrying day and night about what to do in the future.¡±


    ¡°What should we do in the future?¡± Jiang Heng smiled ambiguously.


    He lifted the covers and got out of bed, walking barefoot to stand in front of Ji Yao. Without a word, he reached into Ji Yao¡¯s pocket and pulled out his wallet and pulled out a thin folded paper.


    Ji Yao¡¯s expression changed noticeably. It turned rather unpleasant.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t even look at the paper, as if he knew exactly what was written on it. He casually flicked it, unfolding it and holding it up for Ji Yao to see.


    The receipt was printed with pale blue text, and the words ¡°Wedding Banquet Pre-order¡± at the top were enlarged, making them particularly conspicuous.


    At the bottom of the document, the names of Ji Yao and another unfamiliar person were signed, and beside it, the hotel had stamped a ¡°May You Have a Happy Marriage¡± seal in an elegant font.


    ¡°¡­How did you find out?¡± After a moment, Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°Coincidentally, a friend of mine is familiar with this hotel.¡± Jiang Heng¡¯s lips curled into a knowing smile. ¡°I found out the second time you went with your ¡®mother-in-law¡¯ to check out the venue.¡±


    Ji Yao suddenly felt a pang of pain. His chest tightened, and the fire within him seemed to be extinguished by a bucket of ice water, leaving only a choking smoke.


    He subconsciously wanted to say something, but when the words reached his lips, he couldn¡¯t utter them.


    ¡°I know about your family.¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°Every family has its own problems. It¡¯s normal.¡±


    ¡°You can compromise forever, always giving in.¡± Jiang Heng stared into Ji Yao¡¯s eyes, enunciating each word deliberately. ¡°But I won¡¯t tolerate it anymore.¡±

 CH 28

    ¡°¡­I can¡¯t believe it.¡±


    He Xiangyin was dumbfounded, almost dropping the wine glass in his hand.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me that someone actually wanted to date you, but you went ahead and got engaged quietly to deal with your family¡¯s pressure?¡± He Xiangyin winced as if in pain: ¡°and what about, your fiance did you dump her after that¡±


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t want to talk about it, as just mentioning it made him uneasy. He furrowed his brow and mumbled an acknowledgment.


    He initially responded out of habit and only realized afterward that something was wrong. He retorted, ¡°What do you mean I dumped them?¡±


    ¡°So, you really got married?!¡± He Xiangyin stood up abruptly, his gaze shifting between Ji Yao¡¯s face and his left hand. His voice trembled slightly: ¡°So, you¡­ your wife is in Beijing? Does she know you¡¯re in Shanghai?¡±


    As He Xiangyin spoke, he seemed like he wanted to jump three feet high. He stepped back a few steps while holding the wine glass, but the table stopped him, preventing him from almost falling over.


    ¡°Let me tell you, I have a strong sense of being a gay man with principles.¡± He Xiangyin crossed his arms, almost spilling his drink on his front, looking like he had turned into a righteous and chaste husband on the spot. He said with conviction, ¡°I don¡¯t hang out with fake-marriage gays!¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    His ability to focus on the key points was truly remarkable.


    ¡°This is all so messy,¡± Ji Yao grumbled irritably, glaring at him, ¡°I didn¡¯t get married.¡±


    On that evening, after Jiang Heng left after saying those words to him, he changed clothes and walked out without a word, leaving Ji Yao alone to face the shattered strawberry cake.


    Some things, when forgotten, seem like they¡¯ve faded away, but once a thread is pulled, one realizes that the memories are fresh, as if it happened yesterday.


    Ji Yao still remembered that evening vividly. Jiang Heng seemed to have had a drink, and when he stood in front of Ji Yao, he could distinctly smell a faint scent of alcohol.


    Whether it was anger or something else, Jiang Heng¡¯s eyes were slightly bloodshot, accompanied by a cold and disappointed look that felt piercing.


    Ji Yao was stung by that gaze, and he didn¡¯t fully recover even as Jiang Heng slammed the door and left.


    He stood in the empty bedroom, the lights in the bathroom, living room, and bedroom all on. Nothing was hidden in the room; a glance revealed countless traces of their time together.


    His study materials were spread out on the desk, and Jiang Heng¡¯s practice case files were hidden beneath a book titled ¡°Appointment with Death,¡± with just a thin corner exposed.


    The bathroom door was wide open, and most of the warm steam had dissipated. Two sets of identical toothbrushes were arranged side by side in the mirror cabinet, the toothpaste left in the rinse cup, and the toothbrush all disorganized, not following the prescribed angle.


    Ji Yao slowly surveyed the surroundings, and he felt that these factors that once made him anxious had suddenly settled. They weighed heavily on his heart, creating an indescribable feeling.


    Ji Yao knew that he was a pessimist when it came to love. He instinctively felt that all family environments were oppressive and heavy, like soaking wet water that shouldn¡¯t have any weight, yet could easily suffocate someone.


    So, when Jiang Heng was around, these factors made him nervous, making him feel unsafe. But now that Jiang Heng was gone, Ji Yao realized that after their relationship ended, these things actually made him feel a sense of attachment.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s parting words had struck a chord with Ji Yao, to the point where everything in the house, from the bedding they had picked together to the smashed strawberry cake, felt like reminders. They were reminders of Ji Yao¡¯s absurd decision.


    Was life meant to be spent in constant compromise? Ji Yao suddenly wondered, How far do I need to step back?


    Compromises had no end. As long as he refused to submit to societal norms and his parents, he would always suffer due to lack of freedom.


    Ironically, it was only after Jiang Heng left that Ji Yao found the courage to resist the constraints.


    So Ji Yao slowly bent down, picked up the wine banquet reservation form from the ground, and tore it into pieces.


    With newfound courage, he called his parents on a video call, enduring their angry scolding and tears, then hung up, turned off his phone, and removed the SIM card.


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t run off to get married, nor did he return home. After graduating, he declined the job recommended by his advisor, packed a moderate-sized suitcase, and came to Shanghai on his own, where he stayed until now.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± He Xiangyin sighed deeply, sliding off the table like a flexible bone, returning to the sofa. He used his elbow to nudge Ji Yao as he held his empty wine glass.


    ¡°But seriously, if you decided not to get married anymore, why didn¡¯t you go find him afterward?¡± He Xiangyin wondered, ¡°Is it fair that it just ended like that?¡±


    ¡°It had to,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a logical progression of things. Sooner or later, a day like this would have come.¡±


    Even though he had broken the iron chain, the rusty ankle shackles were still fastened to the small elephant.


    Years of suppressed family environment had made it impossible for Ji Yao to trust any intimate relationship. So he wouldn¡¯t stay with anyone for long. Once someone showed signs of wanting a long-term commitment, he would instinctively want to escape from it all ¨C Jiang Heng was no exception.


    Jiang Heng had been the closest person to this limit. He had almost broken his boundaries for Jiang Heng, but unfortunately, it hadn¡¯t worked out in the end.


    Perhaps it was fate, Ji Yao thought.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say anymore.¡± He Xiangyin looked like his teeth were hurting even more, his features contorted. ¡°You two are like a comet crashing into the Earth.¡±


    Ji Yao felt annoyed listening to this. He shifted his position a little and signaled a waiter, asking for another glass of brandy.


    ¡°But seriously, now what do you do?¡± He Xiangyin wanted to offer advice to Ji Yao but found himself burdened with the weight of this major gossip. He could almost foresee Ji Yao¡¯s miserable future: ¡°Could he hold a grudge and seek revenge on you?¡±


    Ji Yao instinctively wanted to say it wouldn¡¯t happen, but he felt he had no grounds to say so. Three years had passed, and he no longer felt he truly understood Jiang Heng.


    He downed the rest of his drink and followed it by quickly finishing the newly poured brandy. The clear ice cubes clinked against the glass, leaving a cool trail of droplets.


    Ji Yao was about to say something, but his phone¡¯s new message notification interrupted him.


    He unlocked his screen and realized he had received a reply to a friend request he had sent out earlier.


    The profile picture of that middle-aged lawyer appeared at the top of his contacts list. The person had sent a friendly handshake emoji.


    Ji Yao opened the conversation briefly, then closed it. He stood up, picked up his jacket from the sofa, and put it on.


    ¡°Forget it.¡± Thousands of words distilled into a single sentence. Ji Yao put the glass back on the table and said lightly, ¡°When the enemy comes, we¡¯ll deal with them. When trouble comes, we¡¯ll eventually find a solution.¡±

 CH 29

    Since they parted at the hospital last time, Ji Yao hadn¡¯t seen Jiang Heng again.


    He heard that Jiang Heng had gone to the hospital a few times to pick up documents, but he wasn¡¯t sure whether Jiang Heng was intentionally avoiding him or if it was just coincidental timing. Whenever Ji Yao wasn¡¯t performing surgery, he was busy with outpatient clinics, but he hadn¡¯t run into Jiang Heng even once.


    But perhaps it was for the best. Whenever Ji Yao thought of him, he felt uncomfortable all over. Not seeing each other face-to-face actually brought them both a sense of peace.


    The middle-aged lawyer the hospital often collaborated with was named Wang Tao. He was around the same age as Hao Yu and had a look that seemed like a combination of Director Hao and their hospital¡¯s president. He was a somewhat cunning yet kind-hearted person.


    Wang Tao seemed experienced in handling medical disputes and had a well-established process that he navigated with ease. He was attentive and careful, often coming up with points that Ji Yao hadn¡¯t thought of during problem-solving.


    Ji Yao, with his background as an eight-year doctoral student, had a substantial number of research articles under his belt. The hospital was favorably inclined toward him in this matter, green-lighting the process for him. They even gave him fewer shifts, allowing Ji Yao to prepare for the legal proceedings more comfortably.


    Li Linghua was evidently serious about this case. Within half a month, the case was transferred to the prosecutor¡¯s office with charges of medical malpractice. The prosecutor¡¯s office would conduct evidence gathering and investigation before preparing for prosecution.


    Once the district court accepted the case, Wang Tao, on behalf of the hospital, had already processed Ji Yao¡¯s bail. He then returned from the court, arranging to meet Ji Yao.


    For the purpose of preparing the defense, Ji Yao often found time to meet Wang Tao during weekends. They would go through the patient cases and notes of the day, attempting to identify any gaps and address them, to minimize any potential vulnerabilities in the documentation.


    Ji Yao, despite not being on duty during weekends, was hesitant to keep asking his colleagues to cover for him repeatedly. Therefore, on workdays, he would work extra hard, often keeping himself busy with back-to-back shifts.


    When Wang Tao contacted him, Ji Yao had a couple of hours left before his night shift changeover. As a result, he proposed meeting at the hospital staff canteen.


    At 3:30 in the afternoon, the canteen hadn¡¯t started serving food yet. Several counters were empty, with a few scattered lunch boxes on display.


    Sitting in a corner of the canteen, Ji Yao felt a mixture of anxiety as he unlocked and then locked his phone repeatedly. He occasionally glanced at his wristwatch, contemplating whether he should get up and walk around for a bit, but he managed to restrain himself.


    Fortunately, Wang Tao arrived promptly, carrying a briefcase and two cups of coffee.


    ¡°Mr. Wang.¡± Ji Yao¡¯s eyes brightened as he walked a few steps to greet him.


    ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting.¡± Wang Tao shook his hand and then sat down in a quiet corner. He opened one of the cups of coffee and handed it to Ji Yao. ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of all the necessary procedures for you. Don¡¯t worry, everything has gone smoothly.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Ji Yao managed a faint smile, saying, ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡±


    When Li Linghua first wanted to press charges, Ji Yao hadn¡¯t been particularly worried. As a doctor, he had encountered medical disputes and even heard about medical lawsuits before but he hadn¡¯t considered it a major issue.


    However, as the case was progressing toward actual prosecution, Ji Yao was beginning to feel uncertain. The prospect of facing a trial had made him uneasy.


    Wang Tao seemed to sense his nervousness and offered reassurance. ¡°Dr. Ji, there¡¯s no need to be too anxious. The bail application is a standard administrative procedure. After the trial, if you¡¯re found not guilty, your record will be cleared. Moreover, you can continue working as usual during this period, as long as you don¡¯t leave the city. Your daily life won¡¯t be significantly affected.¡±


    Ji Yao let out a small sigh of relief, his furrowed brow relaxing slightly, although not completely.


    Wang Tao continued, ¡°Today, I obtained a copy of the indictment and the list of evidence. You might as well take a look. Overall, the situation is quite manageable. While the patient¡¯s death is a fact, the concept of ¡®serious irresponsibility¡¯ is hard to define. The patient¡¯s father¡¯s statement is the only evidence we have regarding the patient¡¯s medical condition. Since he was intoxicated at the time and not in a clear state of mind, we can argue that his memory was confused, making his statement inconclusive.¡±


    Ji Yao nodded and remembered something. He asked, ¡°By the way, do you know about the situation with the Li family?¡±


    Wang Tao looked puzzled, indicating he wasn¡¯t aware of what Ji Yao was referring to.


    ¡°The conflict between Li Linghua and Liu Qiang.¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°The person who signed the consent form was Liu Qiang¡¯s affair.¡±


    Ji Yao paused for a moment, inwardly chuckling at the thought that no matter what, Jiang Heng had at least been of some help. He had managed to pass on this piece of information, sparing Ji Yao from being completely in the dark.


    He briefly relayed the information Jiang Heng had told him to Wang Tao, avoiding any personal bias and presenting it as objectively as possible. Wang Tao rubbed his chin and clicked his tongue softly.


    ¡°No wonder,¡± Wang Tao said.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°The opposing lawyer visited the club where Li Wen used to race a few days ago.¡± Wang Tao said. ¡°I was wondering why he went there. Now it makes sense; he might have been investigating Li Wen¡¯s death.¡±


    ¡°¡­You knew about that?¡± Ji Yao was surprised.


    ¡°We¡¯re all part of the same circle, so we can catch wind of some information.¡± Wang Tao said, ¡°His professor is a well-known professor in the political and legal department. I¡¯ve heard a bit about him.¡±


    Ji Yao couldn¡¯t help but feel a headache coming on. He knew about Jiang Heng¡¯s reputation. Ever since he graduated, Jiang Heng¡¯s trial success rate had been impressively high. Though not perfect, it was enough to frustrate Ji Yao.


    ¡°Is he that impressive?¡± Ji Yao asked. ¡°I thought you lawyers consider experience as well.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s more about talent.¡± Wang Tao chuckled. ¡°The law is fixed, but people are not. What matters is whether your mind is active and flexible, whether you can think creatively. Haven¡¯t you heard those young folks say before, ¡®What¡¯s in a name? There¡¯s always a suitable one for you?''¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Thanks, now I¡¯m even more anxious.


    It was clear that the joke didn¡¯t lighten the mood. Wang Tao chuckled and shook his head.


    ¡°Just kidding,¡± Wang Tao said. ¡°In the end, lawyers, just like anyone else, aim to win in court. If it were a civil case, you would definitely lose. Someone died in the other party¡¯s family, so even from a humanitarian perspective, they would demand compensation for negligence. But now the situation is different. When it escalates to criminal prosecution and sentencing, it may sound intimidating, but in reality, you have a good chance of winning.¡±

 CH 30

    A week before the trial, Jiang Heng carefully reviewed the existing chain of evidence in his office one last time.


    Gao Jingyi had been on a business trip for a little over two months. When he left, Jiang Heng¡¯s office was a certain way, and when he came back, it looked exactly the same. Files neatly lined the desktop, covering the entire surface. The air purifier hummed in the background, and the shredder in the corner was covered in a thick layer of paper scraps.


    When Gao Jingyi pushed the door open and entered, he let out a whistle of surprise, almost taken aback by the scene.


    ¡°Do you really need this much?¡± Gao Jingyi asked incredulously. ¡°Anyone who doesn¡¯t know would think you¡¯re working on some major case.¡±


    ¡°The trial is coming up, so I¡¯m giving it one final review,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°Li Linghua has been pressuring me about this case, and just to be safe, it¡¯s better to double-check everything.¡±


    ¡°Even if she¡¯s pressuring you, it¡¯s still just a medical dispute. Someone who doesn¡¯t know would think it¡¯s some sort of serial murder case,¡± Gao Jingyi commented, casually placing his briefcase on a chair. ¡°Have you had lunch? I just got off the plane. How about we grab something together?¡±


    Jiang Heng gestured towards the takeout boxes in the trash can.


    Gao Jingyi: ¡°¡­¡±


    He¡¯s quite dedicated, Gao Jingyi thought. Jiang Heng was definitely addicted to working overtime.


    ¡°I heard from Xiao Li that you¡¯ve been to the race car club multiple times recently,¡± Gao Jingyi said. ¡°What were you doing there?¡±


    Xiao Li was their law firm¡¯s administrative staff and also Gao Jingyi¡¯s informant. Jiang Heng was used to it; she was always selling them out, so he didn¡¯t find it surprising.


    Removing his glasses, Jiang Heng pinched the bridge of his nose and said, ¡°Investigating the case.¡±


    Jiang Heng explained that before delving into the investigation of Zhou Fang, he had considered how she might have gone about killing Li Wen if that was indeed her intention. They had no direct connection, no overlapping social circles. Even if she had murderous thoughts, it would have been extremely difficult to execute them.


    He initially thought that Liu Qiang was the intermediary between them, but after investigating, he realized that Liu Qiang was more ambitious than brave. He was just stringing Zhou Fang along with words.


    Li Wen¡¯s death was caused by post-operative infection, but it was fundamentally due to the car accident he was involved in. Jiang Heng realized that if Zhou Fang wanted to manipulate Li Wen¡¯s death, she would have to have used the car accident as a stepping stone.


    ¡°Before the incident, Li Wen¡¯s car had just undergone a major maintenance,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°There are only two or three places that cater to maintenance for wealthy car owners like him. I checked them all and found a mechanic who had recently left his job. According to his colleagues, he won the lottery a few days ago and decided to quit and return to his hometown.¡±


    Gao Jingyi let out a sound of amazement and asked, ¡°How much did he win?¡±


    ¡°Not much, not too little, around five hundred thousand,¡± Jiang Heng gestured with his hand. ¡°He saved it all in one go. He had a lot of cash, so the bank teller remembered him.¡±


    ¡°Impressive.¡± By now, they had a clear understanding of the situation. Gao Jingyi applauded Jiang Heng¡¯s effort and said, ¡°Has it been filed yet?¡±


    ¡°I submitted it three days ago. The conditions for filing are met now. The rest is up to the prosecutor¡¯s office to investigate,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°It¡¯s quite fortunate. Li Wen had three cars in total, and he randomly picked one each time he went out. On that day, when they decided to go to the outskirts, they just happened to choose the one with the issue.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡± Gao Jingyi nodded and then changed the subject, raising the file in his hand. ¡°However, speaking of which, you mentioned casually investigating on the way? It seems like you¡¯ve gone quite a distance.¡±


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    When Gao Jingyi returned, he heard from the administrative staff and front desk that Jiang Heng had been arriving early and leaving late for over a month. He would hole up in his office for most of the night and wouldn¡¯t return home until four or five in the morning.


    At first, he wondered why a medical dispute would take so much effort. Now, looking at it, Jiang Heng seemed to have combined two cases into one.


    The hospital case was one thing, but Li Wen¡¯s death was due to post-operative infection, not directly related to Zhou Fang. Jiang Heng¡¯s attempt to investigate her without concrete evidence had caused a lot of trouble initially.


    Gao Jingyi said nonchalantly, not knowing how much Jiang Heng had been through, ¡°So, you¡¯re dedicating all this time and going through all this trouble just to find justice for Li Linghua?¡±


    Jiang Heng gestured towards the files in front of him and said seriously, ¡°Justice means nobody can escape.¡±

 CH 31

    Gao Jingyi couldn¡¯t argue with him, so he raised his hands in surrender.


    ¡°Alright, alright, fair enough.¡± Gao Jingyi said with earnestness, ¡°But, my friend, it¡¯s already past nine in the evening. The government offices for seeking justice are closed. Aren¡¯t you going to go home?¡±


    Jiang Heng blinked and lifted his sleeve to check. The hands on his watch had indeed passed nine o¡¯clock.


    He had only arrived at the office a little after six in the evening and he had been sitting there for hours. The takeout was ordered and brought in by the front desk; he himself had lost track of time.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s quite late,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    After a moment of thought, Jiang Heng stood up and efficiently organized the documents on the coffee table. He sorted them into different folders, locked them in the filing cabinet, and put the cabinet keys away.


    ¡°Well then.¡± Gao Jingyi straightened up, casually grabbed his briefcase, and said, ¡°Are you heading home? Could you give me a ride? I didn¡¯t bring my car.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going home.¡± Jiang Heng took off his coat from the coat rack and said, ¡°I¡¯m actually planning to visit the hospital involved.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Gao Jingyi grabbed his arm, puzzled, and asked, ¡°Who are you meeting at this hour? The administrative offices have closed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to gather evidence.¡± Jiang Heng didn¡¯t even raise his head. He swiped his phone screen, retrieved a screenshot from his photo album and saved it to the desktop, then took his car keys from the shelf.


    Gao Jingyi accidentally glanced over and saw that it was a screenshot of a local news article.


    ¡°Just a guess, I¡¯m going to verify it.¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it will be useful, but it¡¯s better to be prepared.¡±


    At half-past nine in the evening, Shanghai was still busy with traffic. The sea of red brake lights stretched as far as the eye could see.


    Under a highway bridge, a chain collision had occurred. Three or four cars were stuck together like Siamese twins, blocking the entire street.


    Jiang Heng was stuck at an intersection for twenty minutes, and it seemed the accident hadn¡¯t been cleared yet.


    The cars around him couldn¡¯t help but honk their horns, trying to maneuver and turn around. Jiang Heng backed up a little to give them a narrow path.


    Jiang Heng let several cars through. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry himself. He turned up the air conditioning in his car and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel absentmindedly.


    After about ten minutes, the traffic ahead started moving forward slightly. Jiang Heng rubbed his hands together and was about to move forward when his phone¡¯s screen suddenly lit up. A new incoming call popped up.


    Jiang Heng hesitated for a moment, didn¡¯t step on the gas, and the white car next to him took the opportunity to squeeze through the gap between him and the car in front.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t try to compete with them. He simply stepped on the brake again and answered the call.


    ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Li Linghua¡¯s weary voice came through the car¡¯s speaker, ¡°The matter I mentioned to you this afternoon, do you think it¡¯s feasible?¡±


    After Li Wen¡¯s death, Li Linghua had become like a mother wolf deprived of her cub, wholeheartedly wanting those responsible for harming her son to pay. She didn¡¯t care about anything else anymore.


    After Jiang Heng confirmed that Zhou Fang might indeed be related to Li Wen¡¯s death, Li Linghua¡¯s hatred had intensified even more. It had reached the point where she felt uneasy if she didn¡¯t take some action.


    She was getting impatient waiting for the efficiency of the prosecutor¡¯s office¡¯s investigation. She wanted to do something for Li Wen herself.


    Earlier at noon, Li Linghua had met Jiang Heng and discussed her plan to use the media to spread the word and gain some public support for her cause.


    ¡°My suggestion is that it¡¯s better not to.¡± Jiang Heng had said to her, ¡°I advise against mentioning anything related to medical disputes to the media.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Li Linghua¡¯s voice sounded hoarse.


    ¡°First, things like confronting the other woman aren¡¯t a big deal and can be justified. But in recent years, medical disputes have been a sensitive topic. If not handled properly, it can backfire in terms of public opinion.¡± Jiang Heng said professionally, ¡°Second, according to the investigation, the doctor had no interaction with Zhou Fang, and there¡¯s no evidence of conspiracy between them. So, theoretically, there¡¯s a chance we might lose the case. In this situation, if we prematurely publicize the news and manipulate public opinion, once we lose, they can counter-sue you for defamation and damaging their reputation.¡±


    ¡°Lose?¡± Li Linghua¡¯s voice suddenly rose, her nervousness evident, ¡°Is there a chance we might lose?¡±


    The scene of the accident ahead had been cleared up, and traffic was gradually flowing. Jiang Heng released the brake, slowly moving forward into the main road.


    ¡°There¡¯s always a chance of losing any case.¡± Jiang Heng said calmly, ¡°But don¡¯t worry about this case¡ªThe doctor has a high level of education and medical qualifications. As long as your husband¡¯s testimony is true and doesn¡¯t contradict anything, we can argue that the doctor placed too much trust in the clinical test results, which led to him willfully neglecting potential medical risks.¡±


    ¡°Of course he won¡¯t lie. I¡¯ve asked him many times.¡± Li Linghua¡¯s voice seemed a bit distant, ¡°¡­Moreover, the investigation has already proven that he didn¡¯t conspire with Zhou Fang to harm our son.¡±


    ¡°So, Mrs. Li¡ª¡± Jiang Heng didn¡¯t confirm her words, he just smiled faintly, ¡°Our chances of winning are still quite high.¡±


    There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Only the irregular sound of Li Linghua¡¯s breathing could be heard through the speaker.


    In public prosecution cases, the victim, Li Linghua in this case, didn¡¯t actually need to appear in court. As long as Jiang Heng was there, it would be enough. However, Li Linghua was insistent on being present herself.


    The trial was scheduled for next week, and it was clear that she was getting increasingly nervous.


    ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Li Linghua¡¯s voice was low, ¡°Do you think I can get justice for my son?¡±


    As he spoke, Jiang Heng arrived at the hospital. He rolled down his car window, pulled out a parking card from the machine, and said, ¡°You can.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Li Linghua asked.


    ¡°Absolutely.¡± Jiang Heng was patient, ¡°The essence of the law is to make those who do wrong pay the price.¡±


    Jiang Heng parked his car in the public parking area in front of the emergency building. He sat in the car for a while before finally grabbing his coat and stepping out.


    The hospital where Ji Yao worked was quite large, ranking among the top in Shanghai. Jiang Heng raised the collar of his coat, lowered his head, and walked into the emergency building.


    People were coming and going in the hallway, and no one paid attention to him. Jiang Heng passed the registration area and walked further into the emergency room.


    The emergency room door was half-open, and the on-duty doctors inside were unfamiliar faces. Jiang Heng glanced left and right, found a corner near the emergency room, and stood quietly waiting for a while.


    After three to five minutes, the siren of an ambulance could be heard from outside the building. It got closer, and soon stopped outside.


    Jiang Heng listened to the sound, looked at the time on his watch, and pressed the stopwatch function on his phone. Then he turned to leave.


    ¡°Jiang Lawyer.¡±


    Jiang Heng was halfway down the hallway when he suddenly heard someone call him. He turned around, a bit surprised to see the other person.


    ¡°Wang Lawyer?¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°What a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°It certainly is.¡± Wang Tao walked up with a smiling face, politely greeting him, ¡°Are you here to gather evidence?¡±


    ¡°Just verifying a guess,¡± Jiang Heng replied politely, ¡°I¡¯m done verifying and was just about to leave.¡±


    Jiang Heng¡¯s attitude was calm and polite, but not overly friendly. After all, the trial was approaching, and he, as the defense lawyer, shouldn¡¯t be chatting too much with the opposing side.


    Wang Tao seemed to have the same idea. He nodded in acknowledgment and concluded the conversation, ¡°See you at the trial next week.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°See you next week.¡±

 CH 32

    In the end, Li Linghua couldn¡¯t resist and sought the help of public opinion through the media, causing the matter to be covered by local news.


    Fortunately, she followed Jiang Heng¡¯s advice and didn¡¯t mention the doctor¡¯s involvement. Instead, she focused on the aspect of ¡°suspicion of a third party plotting harm to the legitimate son.¡±


    In this fast-paced modern life, where stress is abundant, people often rely on these morally corrupt criminals to entertain themselves day and night. By the time the medical accident case went to trial, this matter had already become the number one trending topic in local news.


    On the day of the trial, the weather in Shanghai wasn¡¯t great. It had been misty since early morning, with occasional drizzles that were both irritating and inconspicuous.


    The trial was scheduled for 2:30 PM, and Li Linghua arrived an hour early. She had carefully done her makeup that day, attempting to boost her confidence, but the swollen redness of her eyes still revealed her exhaustion.


    Liu Qiang had come with her. He sat restlessly in the car, constantly glancing around.


    Jiang Heng was waiting in the parking lot in advance. Seeing them, he opened an umbrella and walked over to the car, helping Li Linghua out.


    Li Linghua had stayed up all night, her eyes bloodshot. She looked tired and disheartened, as if she were holding on by sheer willpower.


    She held a small box tightly in her hands, cradling it in her arms.


    ¡°Inside is a model that Xiaowen loved the most,¡± Li Nan whispered to Jiang Heng as he closed the car door, ¡°It was a gift from his mother for his eighteenth birthday.¡±


    Jiang Heng nodded, indicating that he understood.


    He had encountered many plaintiffs like this before. They would bring small items belonging to the deceased to court, symbolizing their grief while also allowing them to ¡°witness¡± the outcome.


    Ji Yao also arrived early, just ten minutes after Li Linghua. He had come with Wang Tao. As they entered the courthouse gate, Li Linghua and the others were still standing in the parking lot.


    Jiang Heng was dressed very formally, wearing a suit with a black overcoat. He appeared tall and distinguished among the group. Ji Yao¡¯s gaze subconsciously turned toward him, and Jiang Heng seemed to sense it. They exchanged a distant look across half the parking lot.


    Then Ji Yao averted his gaze first.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Wang Tao said as he parked the car and walked over. He glanced at the crowd around Li Linghua and told Ji Yao, ¡°Let¡¯s head inside.¡±


    Ji Yao nodded.


    On the trending searches, the news trend of ¡°Third Party¡¯s Suspected Intention to Harm the Legitimate Son¡± was intensifying. There were criticisms of the third party and condemnation of the scumbag man. Countless likes and comments had sparked a localized public opinion storm. But because the medical accident issue hadn¡¯t been mentioned, this hidden detail went unnoticed.


    The district court was somewhat empty, with few people in the spectator seats, only Li Nan and several members of the Li family were present.


    Ji Yao had been nervous the previous night, but now that he was seated in the defendant¡¯s seat, he oddly felt a sense of calm.


    Since things had come to this point, he thought, he might as well let things take their course.


    After the mundane preparations were completed, the prosecutor read out the indictment. Ji Yao only half-listened, sensing that it was probably Jiang Heng¡¯s handiwork.


    Jiang Heng had a minor habit when drafting indictments; he tended to use certain fixed phrases habitually. Ji Yao had seen him practice writing so many times that he had almost memorized them.


    Li Linghua¡¯s demands were simple. She didn¡¯t care about the compensation; she only wanted the medical accident to be severely punished according to the law.


    ¡°Based on the medical report and forensic appraisal submitted by the plaintiff, Li Wen had a CD4 cell count of less than two hundred when he underwent surgery. From a clinical perspective, surgery was not possible,¡± the presiding judge said. ¡°However, the defendant still chose to proceed with the surgery, is that correct?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Li Wen¡¯s condition was critical at the time, with a ruptured abdomen and massive bleeding, as well as a risk of infection,¡± Wang Tao said. ¡°In this situation, his physical condition couldn¡¯t withstand a complete preoperative examination, so our client opted for immediate testing. Because the immediate test result was HIV-negative, our client proceeded with the surgery through the normal process.¡±


    ¡°Regarding Mr. Li Wen¡¯s HIV-positive status, his close relatives were all aware of this. On the day of the incident, Mr. Liu Qiang, Li Wen¡¯s biological father, was clearly present, but the medical staff didn¡¯t inform him of the situation. Instead, they chose Zhou Fang, who had no blood relation to the deceased, as the signing proxy,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°From a procedural perspective, this violated the informed consent rights of direct relatives. Therefore, we have reason to suspect that this further led to the involved doctors not communicating adequately with the patient¡¯s family, resulting in a lack of clear understanding of the patient¡¯s condition.¡±


    Jiang Heng¡¯s tone was very indifferent, cold and distant, carrying a mechanical sense of officiousness. In Ji Yao¡¯s impression, aside from the times when Jiang Heng spoke sternly during their previous encounters, he rarely used such an assertive tone.


    Privately, Jiang Heng was actually quite easygoing. He was gentle and considerate, maintaining a tolerant attitude toward many things, skilled in considering others¡¯ perspectives, so he rarely argued with anyone.


    Interestingly, he wasn¡¯t actually a soft and kind-hearted individual. He had his own ideas, boundaries, and convictions, and to some extent, he was quite firm in his decisions.


    Now it seemed like he had channeled all his sharpness and strength into his work.


    ¡°Was Mr. Liu Qiang in a state of heavy intoxication at that time?¡± the presiding judge asked.


    ¡°To state the truth,¡± Wang Tao said softly.


    ¡°He was indeed in an intoxicated state,¡±


    Ji Yao recalled, his nerves causing him to stumble a bit as he spoke. ¡°But he was able to communicate with me. He was crying the whole time and even asked me to save his son.¡±


    ¡°Does the prosecutor have any further questions?¡± the presiding judge asked.


    ¡°I request to call a witness,¡± the prosecutor said.


    At this point in the trial, Liu Qiang¡¯s testimony¡¯s completeness became exceptionally important.


    Following the principle of isolation, Liu Qiang had not attended this trial as a spectator. When he was called in, the atmosphere in the room was tense. Li Linghua¡¯s eyes were red, and everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on him, which made him feel weak in the legs.


    Liu Qiang didn¡¯t know at which stage the trial was, his heart pounding with fear. His gaze shifted back and forth between Li Linghua and Ji Yao.


    He walked unsteadily to the witness stand, stumbling through the oath and then repeating his rehearsed account under the prosecutor¡¯s questioning.


    ¡°When you were communicating with the defendant, were you informing him proactively or answering the doctor¡¯s questions?¡± the prosecutor asked.


    ¡°I told him proactively,¡± Liu Qiang hurriedly said. ¡°He said he was going to operate on Xiaowen, so I told him quickly.¡±


    ¡°What exactly did you say?¡± the prosecutor asked.


    ¡°I told him that Xiaowen has AIDS and asked them to be careful with his treatment,¡± Liu Qiang said. ¡°I also said things like urging them to save Xiaowen¡­ The situation was urgent at the time, and I said it, and he left.¡±


    ¡°Were there other people present at the time?¡± the prosecutor asked.


    ¡°Zhou Fang was there,¡± Liu Qiang said. ¡°No one else.¡±


    ¡°What about medical personnel?¡±


    ¡°None,¡± Liu Qiang said. ¡°Only this doctor.¡±


    ¡°We have something to say,¡± Wang Tao raised his hand, signaling. ¡°Based on the surveillance video, we can see that there were other medical staff around our client during the communication process, including a head nurse and two on-duty doctors.¡±


    At the time, the emergency room entrance was in chaos, and Ji Yao had several people pass by him. Unfortunately, they hadn¡¯t been present the whole time, so each person¡¯s testimony was incomplete.


    However, Wang Tao intentionally didn¡¯t explain everything clearly. Liu Qiang momentarily panicked and said, ¡°That¡­ that might be my mistake.¡±


    ¡°Liu Qiang!¡± Li Linghua suddenly became emotional, unable to hold back her shout, ¡°Can¡¯t you be more reliable?¡±


    ¡°Order in the court,¡± the presiding judge said.


    Li Linghua¡¯s chest was heaving rapidly. She struggled to suppress her anger, glaring fiercely at Liu Qiang.


    ¡°I-I have evidence!¡± Liu Qiang, spurred by Li Linghua¡¯s urging, jumped nervously. He blurted out, ¡°I have a recording!¡±


    ¡°What recording?¡± the prosecutor asked.


    ¡°Just from that night,¡± Liu Qiang forced himself to speak confidently. ¡°I have evidence.¡±


    Ji Yao suddenly froze. He instinctively looked at Jiang Heng and saw Jiang Heng frown slightly, his expression showing some surprise.


    ¡°The evidence is late now, beyond the period for submission of evidence,¡± the prosecutor said in an unfriendly tone. ¡°If you had evidence, why didn¡¯t you bring it earlier?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I only found it last night,¡± Liu Qiang said. ¡°I saw it when I was going through my phone, as if I accidentally touched the recording button.¡±


    Wang Tao furrowed his brows slightly. He leaned closer to Ji Yao and asked in a serious tone, ¡°Did he really not say it?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°I¡¯m certain he didn¡¯t. He definitely didn¡¯t say it.¡±


    Wang Tao hesitated for a moment, then bit his lip and said, ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°We agree to present the evidence in court,¡± Wang Tao said.


    ¡°We have no objections either,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    Nervously, Liu Qiang licked his lips and took out his phone from his pocket. After unlocking it, he handed it over to the presiding judge. His hands were shaking with anxiety, and Li Linghua¡¯s gaze was locked onto his hand as if it were a lifeline.


    The presiding judge pressed the play button, and a cacophony of sounds came from the phone: the rolling of hospital bed wheels, fragmented voices, mingling together and making Liu Qiang¡¯s voice a bit distorted.


    ¡°Doctor¡­ Xiaowen¡¯s situation is unique¡­¡±


    The background noise in the recording was chaotic, but recognizable sounds could still be heard amidst the confusion, confirming that it was indeed recorded in a hospital.


    Ji Yao¡¯s complexion suddenly turned very grim.


    ¡°We request to listen to it again,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    The presiding judge had no objections and soon replayed the recording.


    This time, Jiang Heng seemed to be sure of something. He closed a document he had been reading, and put the cap back on the pen in his hand.


    Li Linghua grew excited. Audio evidence was far more useful than witness testimony. She sat up straight instinctively, wanting to say something, but before she could, Jiang Heng gently held her hand under the table.


    ¡°Mr. Jiang¡­¡± Li Linghua looked at him puzzledly.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t say anything; he simply shook his head slightly.


    After a brief examination, it was preliminarily determined that the recording wasn¡¯t fabricated but an original recording from the phone.


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely fake,¡± Ji Yao muttered softly. ¡°This is a forgery.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Wang Tao said. ¡°The key is to determine how to prove that it¡¯s fake.¡±

 CH 33

    This unexpected recording disrupted Wang Tao¡¯s plan. According to his original thoughts, Liu Qiang¡¯s testimony was vague and he was intoxicated, making it easy to invalidate his testimony.


    But now, out of nowhere, this recording emerged, completely changing the situation.


    Wang Tao¡¯s mind raced as he calculated what he might have missed. He carefully recalled the brief recording from earlier, striving to find any loopholes.


    Before the trial, he had already watched all the surveillance videos from the day of the incident. If Liu Qiang had fabricated the recording, there would inevitably be inconsistencies between the audio and the surveillance footage. The problem was that Liu Qiang¡¯s recording was too short, lasting just over a minute, and Wang Tao was struggling to recall specific details.


    He felt anxious, but in his peripheral vision, he happened to notice Jiang Heng. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he lowered his voice to ask, ¡°On the day of the incident, did you receive a lot of patients?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it then,¡± Wang Tao said, ¡°This recording of his isn¡¯t from that day.¡±


    Ji Yao hadn¡¯t caught on yet, but Wang Tao had already raised his hand to signal.


    ¡°We have an objection,¡± Wang Tao said, ¡°We have evidence to prove that this recording file is forged.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible!¡± Liu Qiang exclaimed, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡±


    ¡°On the day of the incident, while Mr. Li Wen was admitted to the hospital, there was a fire in the old building area of Shanghai due to electrical circuit aging. The fire was significant, with one death and twelve injuries.¡± Wang Tao said, ¡°At the same time, there was a series of car accidents at the intersection of the two streets at the hospital entrance, with two injured individuals. Both of these incidents happened near my client¡¯s hospital. As the receiving hospital, they had ambulances transporting patients all day.¡±


    ¡°This is also reflected in the surveillance videos.¡± Wang Tao said, ¡°The emergency room was continuously receiving new patients that day. It¡¯s true that Mr. Liu¡¯s recording had the sound of a hospital bed being pushed, but there¡¯s no sound of ambulance sirens at the emergency room entrance in your recording.¡±


    Liu Qiang¡¯s expression turned unpleasant.


    ¡°Your recording is one minute and twenty-six seconds long, and it takes about thirty to forty-five seconds for an ambulance to transport a patient to the emergency room.¡± Wang Tao said, ¡°So, according to the number of stretchers passing by in the video while you were conversing with our client, your recording should have at least two instances of siren sounds.¡±


    Liu Qiang instinctively turned to look at Jiang Heng, seeking some assistance from his own lawyer. However, Jiang Heng calmly smoothed out the documents in his hand and didn¡¯t say a word.


    Ji Yao couldn¡¯t help but glance at Jiang Heng too, curious about his reaction. Unexpectedly, Jiang Heng didn¡¯t spare even half a glance at Liu Qiang. Instead, he slightly turned his head and whispered a couple of sentences to Li Linghua.


    Actually, Liu Qiang could have said something, like his phone being in his pocket, the recording being unclear due to his narrow surroundings and the presence of many people, making it difficult to capture the sound of sirens clearly.


    But he was already anxious and flustered. He didn¡¯t want to raise suspicion from Li Linghua, so he rushed to testify without thinking. Now, he was exposed on the spot and got so scared that he forgot his lines.


    Li Linghua¡¯s complexion turned even more pale than Liu Qiang¡¯s. She stared at Liu Qiang¡¯s retreating figure with wide eyes, unable to utter a single word.


    The panel of judges exchanged a few words and decided to adjourn temporarily to investigate and verify the evidence.


    Liu Qiang was taken into custody for further processing, while Li Linghua couldn¡¯t stand staying in the room any longer. She suddenly stood up, clutching the small box in her hand, and briskly left through the back door.


    Jiang Heng stood up and followed closely behind her.


    Ji Yao¡¯s heart was still racing, and he placed a hand on his chest, sighing with lingering fear.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright now,¡± Wang Tao reassured him, ¡°With the witness fabricating evidence, the credibility of the testimony will be completely invalidated. Barring any surprises, we should win the case.¡±


    ¡°Why would he fabricate evidence?¡± Ji Yao asked, ¡°Li Linghua doesn¡¯t even want compensation.¡±


    ¡°People are complex. When they have something they really don¡¯t want to lose, they¡¯ll take risks for it.¡± Wang Tao said, ¡°Liu Qiang is completely dependent on Li Linghua¡¯s existence. If Li Linghua finds out he intentionally delayed Li Wen¡¯s treatment, she won¡¯t let him off. He¡¯s backed into a corner and has to do this.¡±


    Ji Yao let out a sigh, feeling more mentally exhausted than ever before.


    ¡°I¡¯m going outside to get some fresh air,¡± Ji Yao said.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Wang Tao said, ¡°I¡¯ll be here waiting for updates.¡±


    Ji Yao left the courtroom through the back door. He had intended to stand in the corridor for a while, but as soon as he stepped out, he heard movement from the neighboring room.


    He glanced over and noticed that the door to the adjacent resting room wasn¡¯t completely shut. Li Linghua was sobbing uncontrollably, cradling something in her arms, while Jiang Heng stood beside her, handing her tissues.


    ¡°I never thought he could be so heartless,¡± Li Linghua lamented tearfully. ¡°I thought at most he wanted money, but I never imagined he would intentionally let our son die, watching Xiao Wen die¡ªmy own son!¡±


    Just ten minutes ago, Li Linghua had still clung to a glimmer of hope, but now she could no longer ignore the reality in front of her.


    Maybe deep down, when she had repeatedly questioned Liu Qiang about the situation, she had already had a premonition. Yet she couldn¡¯t believe, and couldn¡¯t afford to believe, that the person who used to share her life could be so ruthless.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t directly participate in premeditated murder, he probably didn¡¯t have the nerve for that,¡± Jiang Heng said objectively. ¡°It was likely an impulsive decision to deliberately withhold the medical information and delay treatment. If it succeeded, he wouldn¡¯t have directly caused a death, and if it failed, he wouldn¡¯t have lost much.¡±


    Li Linghua¡¯s makeup was smudged from crying, her eyes red, and her fingers clenched the box tightly.


    ¡°Is there any way to make him pay? Can he be held accountable as an accomplice to murder?¡± Li Linghua asked. ¡°My Xiao Wen can¡¯t die in vain. Just because he claims it wasn¡¯t intentional doesn¡¯t mean it should be overlooked.¡±


    Jiang Heng handed her another tissue, his tone gentle. ¡°I understand, you can trust me.¡±


    The panel of judges quickly deliberated and reached a conclusion. The large fire in the old city area on the day of the incident was big news, trending locally for several days. By comparing the time and the surveillance footage, it was easy to reach a conclusion.


    The fact that Liu Qiang forged evidence was established, and as a result, his testimony was invalidated. Based on the presumption of innocence and the POCT results, the court ultimately classified this medical dispute as an accidental event.


    During the second half of the trial, Li Linghua¡¯s mood was low throughout. She finally realized that the real culprit was someone else, so she no longer clung tightly to Ji Yao. She expressed her willingness to drop the charges.


    After the trial, Jiang Heng and Li Nan accompanied Li Linghua out, while Ji Yao, accompanied by Wang Tao, went to handle the procedures to lift his bail. This added another hour of hassle, and by the time they left, the sky had already turned dark.


    Ironically, even though he had only attended one court session, Ji Yao strangely felt a sense of relief when he stepped out again.


    Standing on the steps outside the courthouse, he couldn¡¯t help but stretch his back in a lazy manner.


    Wang Tao came out of the courthouse after him, noticing his demeanor and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Feeling better now?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Ji Yao smiled. ¡°Finally done. These two months have been suffocating.¡±


    ¡°From now on, you don¡¯t have to worry anymore.¡± Wang Tao handed the closing documents to Ji Yao. ¡°Go home and get a good night¡¯s sleep.¡±


    ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Ji Yao asked. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to Liu Qiang, who fabricated evidence?¡±


    ¡°No one posted bail for him, and he¡¯s already been detained. The prosecution will press charges, and he¡¯ll be charged with perjury based on obstructing judicial investigation.¡± Wang Tao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, commenting, ¡°Speaking of which, Jiang Heng is truly an excellent student of his mentor. His mind works really fast.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    Wang Tao waved at him, signaling him to talk as they walked.


    ¡°The truth is, this case isn¡¯t complicated at all. The complexity just lies in the victim¡ªLi Linghua¡¯s refusal to accept reality and the difficulty in classifying Liu Qiang¡¯s actions as criminal. He was drunk and faced with special pressure. Even if Li Linghua realized and wanted to argue that he deliberately delayed the rescue time, it would be hard to prove his malice, and it¡¯s difficult to assign criminal responsibility. So, Jiang Heng found another solution to resolve both issues.¡±


    ¡°When I said he chose criminal proceedings over civil litigation to make it easier for you, it seems there¡¯s more to it,¡± Wang Tao said. ¡°The charge of fabricating evidence only applies to criminal proceedings, not civil ones. He insisted on going through criminal proceedings, probably anticipating Liu Qiang¡¯s actions. Either Liu Qiang refuses to testify and loses, or he ends up in this kind of situation. In either case, Li Linghua will see the truth clearly. Moreover, I don¡¯t think she¡¯s trying to make a scene; she just doesn¡¯t want her son¡¯s death to be in vain. People like her, they can be difficult if they want to, but if they agree, they¡¯re easy to work with. Once the situation is clarified, she won¡¯t cling to you.¡±


    Suddenly, Ji Yao remembered the conversation he had with Jiang Heng during their last meeting at the hospital.


    ¡°So, he actually didn¡¯t want to put me in jail?¡± Ji Yao¡¯s expression turned somewhat odd.


    ¡°But he can only put you in jail if there¡¯s evidence. The court won¡¯t make baseless judgments,¡± Wang Tao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t say it like that. He¡¯s actually not a bad person. He¡¯s treated Li Linghua well and even helped you out. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to handle the compensation¡ªthese young lawyers nowadays are so impressive.¡±

 CH 34

    Ji Yao found it difficult to describe his current mood.


    It was as if he was hearing an evaluation of Jiang Heng from someone else¡¯s perspective for the first time. He needed a moment to process and match the image that Wang Tao mentioned with the actual Jiang Heng.


    Before this, Jiang Heng¡¯s image in Ji Yao¡¯s mind was almost fixed¡ªhis friends in their circle thought he was generous, carefree, and capable; those who had feelings for him found him considerate, gentle, and attentive; as for Ji Yao himself, he had always thought of Jiang Heng as immune to all vices, like a poppy essence, full of mystery and danger, making him want to stay away while inexplicably immersing himself.


    Knowing each other for three years and sharing a bed for over two years, Ji Yao believed he understood Jiang Heng better than many people. But now, stepping out of that environment, Ji Yao suddenly realized that Jiang Heng was not exactly what he had imagined.


    Ji Yao¡¯s impression of Jiang Heng was that he clearly distinguished between public and private matters, always prioritizing the interests of his clients. As for who was innocent and who was guilty in a case, he didn¡¯t seem to care that much.


    Ironically, in the half-month before the trial, Ji Yao had nightmares several times, dreaming of being imprisoned, and then Jiang Heng would come to visit him in the prison, elegantly dressed.


    He had prepared himself for a worst-case scenario, but Wang Tao¡¯s casual words had sketched a different image of Jiang Heng.


    As these conflicting perceptions emerged, Ji Yao¡¯s confidence in his understanding of Jiang Heng wavered easily.


    ¡°Do I really know him?¡± Ji Yao thought puzzledly, wondering if Jiang Heng had changed over these years or if he had never truly understood Jiang Heng.


    In this moment, right now, suddenly, the image of Jiang Heng in his mind miraculously deviated from the ¡°romantic AI,¡± taking on an entirely new form.


    ¡°Xiao Ji.¡± Wang Tao didn¡¯t notice Ji Yao¡¯s distraction and asked casually, ¡°Where do you live? It¡¯s not a good time for taxis. Shall I drop you off on my way?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine if you drop me off at the hospital. My home is near there,¡± Ji Yao returned to his senses and said, ¡°Wherever you find convenient on your way works for me.¡±


    ¡°Sure, no problem.¡± Wang Tao gestured for him to get in the car, ¡°Then I¡¯ll drop you off at the entrance of your hospital.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Ji Yao smiled and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Ji Yao got into the car and absentmindedly took out his phone from his pocket. He had kept his phone turned off for the trial.


    He pressed the power button, and the screen lit up with the logo appearing, but the loading progress bar moved slowly. Ji Yao licked his lips and suddenly felt like saying something.


    Wang Tao wasn¡¯t the most suitable person to talk to, but Ji Yao couldn¡¯t think of anyone else at the moment.


    ¡°Actually, before today, I was quite worried,¡± Ji Yao spoke slowly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the opposing lawyer to help me.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Wang Tao detected a strange undertone in his words and gave him an unexpected glance, then smiled, ¡°Do you know Jiang Heng?¡±


    ¡°¡­Not really,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°But I¡¯ve heard from friends. I heard that he has helped a lot of defendants with their lawsuits.¡±


    Wang Tao immediately understood his implication and couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    ¡°You mean you¡¯ve heard that he has defended many criminal suspects?¡± Wang Tao asked.


    Ji Yao nodded.


    ¡°Understandable. Outsiders sometimes think that way.¡± Wang Tao turned the steering wheel and merged into traffic. ¡°The general public might think that defending heinous criminals is equivalent to helping them escape justice. But in reality, the law has its own rules. While the victims deserve justice through the law, the criminals also deserve fairness under the law.¡±


    ¡°In some cases, the actual charges against the suspects might be much lower than the public opinion and moral influence,¡± Wang Tao explained. Most defendants have done wrong, but not everyone deserves the death penalty. In such cases, defense attorneys have to be more cautious, because they become the last straw for these criminals to grasp onto fairness. If you don¡¯t give it your all, they¡¯re doomed.¡±


    Wang Tao joked, ¡°For example, if a murderer is sent to your hospital, you have to cure him before sending him to the police station.¡±


    ¡°¡­Makes sense,¡± Ji Yao said.


    As they spoke, his phone finished booting up, and several pop-up windows appeared on the screen, along with two missed calls.


    He Qiangyin couldn¡¯t stay idle and had sent several WeChat messages asking about the trial¡¯s outcome.


    Ji Yao replied with a single word, ¡°Won,¡± and briefly described the trial¡¯s situation.


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± He Qiangyin responded with an emoji of a white dog holding a knife, saying, ¡°Seems like Brother Former Husband is not bad.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes the law has its loopholes, so balancing within these loopholes to achieve both morality and legality is an art,¡± Wang Tao said, ¡°For example, your situation with Liu Qiang, from our perspective, he did well.¡±


    Wang Tao¡¯s words overlapped with the new messages popping up in the WeChat conversation window. The colorful lights of the street shone through the car window, casting a glow on Ji Yao¡¯s slender shoulders.


    The WeChat conversation window kept displaying new messages. He Qiangyin was joyfully suggesting they get rid of bad luck and asking if he wanted to try an immersive spa experience.


    But Ji Yao held his phone and suddenly felt an impulse.


    He really wanted to ask Jiang Heng if he truly intended to help him.


    Deepening this question seemed somewhat pointless. The trial had ended, and whether the answer was yes or no, it didn¡¯t really matter to Ji Yao.


    However, he simply felt that if he didn¡¯t ask this question, he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep well at night.


    ¡°Lawyer Wang¡ª¡± Ji Yao directly replied with a ¡°maybe another time¡± to He Qiangyin, then said to Wang Tao, ¡°Could you drop me off at the subway station up ahead, please?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Wang Tao was surprised, wondering, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to the hospital?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°I suddenly remembered something I need to take care of elsewhere.¡±


    The One bar was located in the old city area of Shanghai. Despite its bar sign, the interior was plain and concealed within a labyrinthine alley. Even with navigation, outsiders had trouble finding it, and its size was less than sixty square meters.


    In the dim lighting, there were only a few customers in the bar, and the music playing was not the lively rock music you¡¯d expect, but rather obscure Italian ballads.


    Jiang Heng sat by the bar, his coat hanging on the back of the chair. He had already finished half of his cocktail.


    The bar owner sat behind the bar, playing a mobile game while glancing at him from the corner of his eye.


    ¡°Why do you look so pale?¡± he said, ¡°You look like a ghost under the lights.¡±


    ¡°Staying up late working on a case these past few days,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°A little vitamin C will fix that.¡±


    The case involving Liu Qiang had just started, and the investigation into Zhou Fang¡¯s case was ongoing. The trial work was temporarily finished for Jiang Heng, giving him a bit of breathing room.


    After the trial ended, he had accompanied Li Nan in sending Li Linghua home, comforted her for a while, then left and went out. Now, he was planning to have a few drinks before heading home to get a good night¡¯s sleep.


    ¡°Don¡¯t work so hard, money isn¡¯t everything,¡± the bar owner said, ¡°Hey, Ge Xing wanted me to ask you if you want to go to Beijing for Christmas. He¡¯ll treat you, and it can also serve as a birthday celebration for you.¡±


    The bar owner was a ¡°success story¡± of Ge Hongniang¡¯s matchmaking, and he had also been an acquaintance of Jiang Heng. Through Ge Xing, he had gotten to know a painter on this side of Shanghai, and things had gone well, so he decided to settle down here and open a not-too-big, not-too-small bar.


    Jiang Heng hadn¡¯t seen him in almost three years and was here for the first time.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± Jiang Heng smiled and said, ¡°The cases haven¡¯t finished yet.¡±


    ¡°Okay then.¡± The bar owner responded half-heartedly, tapping a couple of times on his phone screen, ¡°I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll get the chance to have a meal with old friends again.¡±


    ¡°Next time.¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°I¡¯ll treat you after I¡¯m finished with work.¡±


    Before his words settled, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. Jiang Heng looked at the incoming call display, his expression turning slightly unnatural.


    He gestured to the bar owner with an apologetic smile and went out with his phone.


    The bar owner craned his neck to watch him for a while, then lowered his head back to his mobile game, continuing to play. After a dozen rounds, Jiang Heng returned from outside.


    He didn¡¯t know whose call he had answered, but his mood seemed a bit more complicated than before. Sitting back at the bar counter, he didn¡¯t say anything, just tapped the counter with his finger.


    ¡°Whiskey.¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°With half the base alcohol, make it a Tequila Sunrise.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± The bar owner raised an eyebrow in surprise, bending over to retrieve an ice chisel from under the bar, ¡°Do you have time to wait? What are you so happy about?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Jiang Heng curled his lips into a smile and said, ¡°I heard good news, why wouldn¡¯t I be happy?¡±


    Jiang Heng spoke and finished the last of his drink in one gulp, then pushed the glass toward the bar owner. After that, he clicked open the conversation with Gao Jingyi and sent him several year-end summary files.


    The bar owner glanced at him while chiseling ice, noticing how quickly he switched between different screens, and he had no idea what he was busy with.


    After arranging his year-end work and confirming a time with the cleaning lady, the whiskey with an added ice ball was ready. But before he could reach out and take the glass, a hand suddenly appeared beside him, covering the mouth of the glass.


    Jiang Heng raised his head in confusion, freezing when he realized who it was.


    ¡°Change it.¡± Ji Yao didn¡¯t look at him, he just said to the bar owner, ¡°A glass of Tequila Sunrise, but reduce the base alcohol by half.¡±

 CH 35

    The bar owner was one of the few people in Shanghai who knew about their relationship.


    Back in Beijing, Jiang Heng and Ji Yao had gained quite a reputation as a couple. While they were both well-regarded in their circle, they never entertained the ¡°public,¡± they went off to privately resolve their issues, leading to many passionate discussions behind their backs among their mutual friends.


    Nobody knew how Ji Yao managed to win over Jiang Heng, or how Jiang Heng had been able to avoid triggering Ji Yao¡¯s sensitivities for so long. By the time everyone had realized it, they had already tacitly accepted that these two would be together for a long time


    In the ever-changing social circles, and their niche sexual orientation, they struggled to survive within the confines of societal norms and family expectations. People lived for the moment and rarely settled down for a proper relationship.


    Jiang Heng and Ji Yao had been together for almost three years when they suddenly and unexpectedly parted ways. Everyone felt it was a pity.


    However, their separation was clean and swift. They left Beijing almost simultaneously and disappeared from the city, turning their relationship into a mystery. It became a topic of conversation over tea and dinner, yet almost nobody knew the reason behind it.


    Seeing them together again, the bar owner almost felt like he had time-traveled. He could hardly believe his eyes and had the urge to take out his phone to check what year it was.


    Ji Yao covered the whisky with ice, and the bar owner glanced at Jiang Heng, seeing no objection. He turned around, grabbed the necessary tools from the shelf, and mixed a Tequila Sunrise for him.


    With half of the base alcohol, the sweet aroma of fresh orange juice and pomegranate syrup became particularly strong. Jiang Heng tilted the glass, watching the transparent surface of the drink catch the warm, golden glow of the dim bar lights.


    Jiang Heng rarely drank such sweet cocktails, and his expression became somewhat peculiar.


    ¡°¡­ Doing this will make me think you¡¯re trying to flirt with me,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    ¡°Just drink it,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Don¡¯t want another trip to the hospital, do you?¡±


    His tone was light, his demeanor natural and calm. Jiang Heng was almost certain that Ji Yao had come to see him on purpose this time.


    If it had been a chance encounter, he would never have initiated a conversation.


    Jiang Heng propped his head on his hand and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°How did you find me?¡±


    He glanced at the bar owner from the corner of his eye, and the bar owner widened his eyes, hastily shaking his head to indicate that he had nothing to do with this.


    ¡°I asked Ge Xing,¡± Ji Yao said.


    With an impulsive desire to clarify things, Ji Yao initially thought of Jiang Heng. However, as he stood at the subway station entrance, he suddenly realized that he didn¡¯t even have Jiang Heng¡¯s contact information.


    Shanghai was thousands of square kilometers in size, and the streets were bustling with people. But Ji Yao realized that without a way to communicate with someone, meeting them was surprisingly difficult.


    He hesitated with his phone for a while, then reluctantly called Ge Xing to ask for Jiang Heng¡¯s contact information again.


    ¡°Jiang Heng?¡± Ge Xing¡¯s tone sounded matter-of-fact, not even bothering to ask why he wanted it: ¡°He¡¯s at The Qingbo bar.¡±


    Ji Yao paused momentarily, but before he could ask further, Ge Xing had already hung up, sending Ji Yao the location through WeChat.


    ¡°The bar at Qingbo is here,¡± a new message popped up in the chat: ¡°It¡¯s not easy to find. If you get lost, call me.¡±


    Ji Yao, not being from Shanghai, was unfamiliar with the city¡¯s old streets and alleys. He got lost for twenty minutes among winding paths and alleys, finally finding his way with the help of navigation and asking around.


    The sign for The One Bar was low-key and unassuming, embedded in the wall with a wooden plaque. He almost missed it as he walked past the entrance.


    ¡°Ge Xing,¡± Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help shaking his head, smiling helplessly: ¡°He really is the top agent of the Beijing branch of FBI¡¯s Red Line Division.¡±


    Jiang Heng pushed the whisky glass that he had originally ordered to Ji Yao and said, ¡°Don¡¯t waste it; consider it my treat.¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s fingertips touched the cold glass surface, getting a few droplets of water on them.


    He didn¡¯t sit down, didn¡¯t drink the glass of whisky, but simply moved the glass in front of him.


    From a high vantage point, Ji Yao¡¯s gaze traced the outline of Jiang Heng. He suddenly felt a surreal sensation.


    Ji Yao had never thought that after their breakup, he and Jiang Heng could sit down together and have a peaceful conversation.


    When they broke up, Jiang Heng had left with obvious frustration. Rumor had it that he didn¡¯t even return to their rented place and had merely given the landlord an additional fee to handle the cleanup, leaving behind everything except work-related documents.


    In the months following their breakup, Ji Yao would occasionally dream of Jiang Heng.


    The atmosphere in those dreams was always gloomy, the sky covered in shades of gray, empty streets with no one around, only the constant flow of cars.


    He and Jiang Heng often met on the streets of Beijing in his dreams, either silent or accusing each other. Every time he woke up, Ji Yao¡¯s mood was far from good.


    Zhou Qingbo anxiously sat behind the bar counter, his eyes darting back and forth between Ji Yao and Jiang Heng. He lamented internally, wondering why the atmosphere was so tense.


    He couldn¡¯t resist sliding off his stool, cautiously crouching down to hide himself, leaving only his eyes peeking out as he stared at them, attempting to minimize his presence.


    Fortunately, neither Jiang Heng nor Ji Yao noticed him amidst the dim lighting. Zhou Qingbo couldn¡¯t resist typing out his complaints on the screen.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were bringing Ji Yao here?¡± Zhou Qingbo typed out a row of exclamation marks: ¡°What if they start fighting as soon as they see each other, and blood splatters everywhere?¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t come to that. Everyone there is an adult, they know how to behave,¡± Ge Xing replied quickly: ¡°How¡¯s the atmosphere?¡±


    ¡°Okay, I guess?¡± Zhou Qingbo glanced at the two people on the opposite side and replied: ¡°They¡¯re still in a standoff, no fight has broken out yet. The atmosphere seems relatively peaceful.¡±


    ¡°I told you,¡± Ge Xing said.


    Zhou Qingbo wanted to poke a hole in the screen with his finger: ¡°If they start fighting here, you¡¯ll be responsible for all the broken bottles!¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t happen,¡± Ge Xing said: ¡°To be honest, I¡¯ve consulted an astrologer about their zodiac signs and blood types. Their compatibility score is quite high, and they¡¯re definitely not done with each other. There¡¯s still room for reconcilement.¡±


    Zhou Qingbo: ¡°???¡±


    Has this person become obsessed with playing matchmaker? Zhou Qingbo thought..


    Zhou Qingbo decided not to play the role of Ge Xing¡¯s matchmaking surveillance camera. He slid off his stool and made his way toward the back kitchen passage, and slipped away discreetly.


    Hidden in the dim light, neither Jiang Heng nor Ji Yao noticed him slipping away quietly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for anything else,¡± Ji Yao lowered his gaze and lightly tapped his glass: ¡°Just here to thank you for helping me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get me into trouble, alright?¡± Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help but laugh: ¡°Don¡¯t spread rumors; I have legal principles to uphold. If you say things like that, I might not get any clients in the future.¡±


    ¡°So, you weren¡¯t intending to help me?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Jiang Heng took a sip of his drink, the sweetness almost overwhelming, and he pushed the glass away with a playful nudge: ¡°Why would I bother helping you? What¡¯s in it for me?¡±


    ¡°My lawyer told me that by doing this, you were helping me,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°So, it wasn¡¯t your intention?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°Mrs. Li wants to send everyone who harmed her son to jail. I just helped her.¡±


    Ji Yao looked at him with lowered eyes.


    Subconsciously, he might have been expecting a different answer, but now that Jiang Heng had straightforwardly denied it, Ji Yao surprisingly didn¡¯t feel disappointed.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Ji Yao nodded nonchalantly, then casually continued, ¡°So if he didn¡¯t provide false testimony, your preparation would have been in vain.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s also the fact of polygamy,¡± Jiang Heng said: ¡°Three months ago, Zhou Fang had a child for him.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Ji Yao nodded, then suddenly changed the subject: ¡°So why didn¡¯t you just handle it that way?¡±


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    The drink was too sweet, Jiang Heng thought. It must be the overly sweet drink or perhaps his excessive working overtime that had rusted his brain.


    Ji Yao had a rare verbal victory over him, and seeing Jiang Heng choked up, not being able to say anything, he couldn¡¯t help raising an eyebrow.


    Jiang Heng pursed his lips and decided to cut his losses, quickly heading home to get some rest. He stood up decisively, finishing the remaining half cup of drink in one gulp.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m leaving now.¡±

 CH 36

    Jiang Heng stood up too quickly, his steps unstable, and he swayed slightly.


    Because of the angle of the light just now, Ji Yao hadn¡¯t seen his face clearly. Now that Jiang Heng stood up, Ji Yao realized that his complexion was unnaturally pale.


    There was fatigue at the corners of his eyes and brows, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, making him appear quite uncomfortable.


    ¡°Is your stomach hurting?¡± Ji Yao couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Heng hesitated for a moment before responding, ¡°No.¡±


    Frowning slightly, Ji Yao felt that something wasn¡¯t quite right. First, he didn¡¯t catch the trap in Jiang Heng¡¯s words, and then his response was slow. None of this seemed like Jiang Heng¡¯s usual state.


    Out of his professional habit, Ji Yao reached out and gently touched Jiang Heng¡¯s forehead with the back of his hand.


    The temperature where their skin touched was slightly high, and Ji Yao quickly grasped the situation.


    ¡°You have a slight fever,¡± Ji Yao said.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Heng turned his head to avoid his hand, and upon hearing this, he didn¡¯t take it seriously. He used the same excuse he had used earlier to deal with Zhou Qingbo: ¡°Probably just a weak immune system from staying up late too often. I¡¯ll just have some vitamin C when I get back, and it¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    This kind of incorrect medical knowledge was practically challenging his medical expertise.


    ¡°It¡¯s better if you go to the hospital for a check-up,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°A weakened immune system wouldn¡¯t cause a low-grade fever. It could lead to a viral infection and manifest as a fever.¡±


    ¡°Forget it,¡± Jiang Heng politely declined, ¡°A good night¡¯s sleep will do the trick. I don¡¯t want to burden the doctors by going to the hospital.¡±


    Ji Yao furrowed his brows, his face clearly expressing his disagreement.


    From a ¡°doctor¡¯s¡± perspective, Ji Yao should advise him to take care of his health. However, from the standpoint of a ¡°former boyfriend,¡± Ji Yao indeed shouldn¡¯t meddle too much.


    These two completely opposite stances momentarily shook his heart. But before Ji Yao could weigh the results of balancing between his roles as a ¡°doctor¡± and a ¡°former boyfriend,¡± Jiang Heng nodded politely, draped his coat over his arm, and turned to walk toward the door.


    Watching him walk away, Ji Yao suddenly felt a bit uneasy.


    He could guess why Jiang Heng was pushing himself so hard. Even though Jiang Heng claimed it was for his clients, Ji Yao had benefited from it as well. Therefore, he couldn¡¯t simply ignore Jiang Heng¡¯s situation.


    He had only undergone surgery two months ago, Ji Yao thought.


    Ji Yao¡¯s professional ethics prevented him from letting Jiang Heng leave like that. So, after a brief pause, he couldn¡¯t help taking a step forward and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been drinking, how do you plan on getting home?¡±


    Jiang Heng¡¯s steps halted, and he belatedly realized that he had forgotten to call a designated driver.


    It was currently rush hour, and Zhou Qingbo¡¯s bar was situated in a narrow alley, making it not so easy to find a designated driver.


    Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly.


    After waiting a few seconds without hearing a response, Ji Yao understood that Jiang Heng hadn¡¯t thought of a solution yet. Without further ado, he reached out and grabbed Jiang Heng, saying, ¡°This won¡¯t work. Let Qingbo take you back¡ª¡±


    His voice came to an abrupt stop as he realized that the bar counter, which had been occupied a moment ago, was now empty. Zhou Qingbo had disappeared without a trace at some point, leaving behind only a small floral apron used for work.


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    And, to make things worse, at this moment, a staff member in a vest and shirt walked in from outside the entrance. Familiar with the layout, he bypassed the two of them and walked to the bar counter, opened the passage door, and slipped inside.


    Apparently, Ji Yao¡¯s presence was quite noticeable. The bartender hesitated and glanced at him, asking, ¡°Are you two here for drinks?¡±


    Ji Yao took a deep breath and asked as calmly as possible, ¡°¡­Where¡¯s your boss?¡±


    ¡°Our boss has finished work,¡± the bartender said, puzzled, ¡°He should have gone home by now.¡±


    Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He had probably been holding back laughter for a long time, unable to stop once he started, enduring quite a bit of hardship.


    Ji Yao turned his head to look at Jiang Heng, holding his hand in a way that wasn¡¯t quite a pull or a hold, a real-life depiction of being ¡°caught in a dilemma.¡±


    Jiang Heng blinked, taking advantage of the moment when Ji Yao wasn¡¯t looking at him to examine him under the lights for a moment.


    During the court session earlier, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to Ji Yao. It wasn¡¯t until now that he noticed Ji Yao was wearing a light-colored sweater, with a bronze-colored decorative button on the collar of his coat, giving him a very neat, innocent appearance.


    Not much different from a few years ago, Jiang Heng thought. He looks even more gentle than anyone, but he¡¯s full of ideas.


    For Jiang Heng, today wasn¡¯t the best time to communicate with Ji Yao. But since things had come to this point, avoiding seemed a bit deliberate. So Jiang Heng decided to go along with it.


    ¡°Dr. Ji,¡± Jiang Heng dangled the car key in front of Ji Yao with his fingertip, implying something, ¡°Have you got your driver¡¯s license?¡±


    Ji Yao looked at the car key in front of him, his inner turmoil like little matchstick men fighting.


    Honestly, even today, when faced with Jiang Heng, Ji Yao couldn¡¯t maintain his usual composure.


    Rationally, Ji Yao told himself that when they broke up, they were both to blame. Neither of them had treated their relationship well. But emotionally, he couldn¡¯t help but think occasionally that if he hadn¡¯t made the wrong choice first, Jiang Heng might not have done what he did.


    He had a reputation for being charming and romantic, yet until that day when he was ¡°caught cheating¡± by Ji Yao, he had never cheated. Ji Yao always felt he had a kind of stubborn purity about love. But because Jiang Heng had never clearly admitted it, Ji Yao wasn¡¯t sure if he was overthinking things.


    So, it still wasn¡¯t clear whether Jiang Heng had been carried away by his needs or acted out of revenge that day.


    But delving into this question, which was destined to have no answer, would touch on Ji Yao¡¯s most unwanted memories. So, he instinctively avoided recalling it and was unwilling to talk about it again.


    The words he had spoken to Jiang Heng before weren¡¯t just out of stubbornness. He genuinely wanted to stay away from Jiang Heng, to cut off any chance of seeing him again.


    Only by doing so could he brutally bury everything related to Jiang Heng in a corner of his memory and forget about them as time passed.


    But fate was an unpredictable thing. In the vast expanse of China¡¯s 9.6 million square kilometers, he and Jiang Heng happened to reunite in the most unlikely place.


    Now, every time he saw Jiang Heng, he would inevitably face it again. It seemed that as long as Jiang Heng appeared, he could easily drag him back to the situation three years ago.


    Ji Yao felt like a magnet from an elementary school science lesson ¨C his emotions tugged at his instincts, and even though he knew they repelled each other, he was still drawn upward, unable to resist.


    And most importantly, he was conflicted throughout.


    Logic told him he should stay away from his ex-boyfriend, but emotions demanded more, prompting him to want to find out what Jiang Heng was really thinking.


    Ji Yao reached out and took the car key from Jiang Heng¡¯s hand.


    Saving lives, Ji Yao took a deep breath, forcibly persuading himself, ¡°I¡¯m doing my job saving lives, making a great contribution to human life and health safety.¡±


    ¡°I have my driver¡¯s license, but I didn¡¯t bring it,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°If the traffic police stop me, you¡¯ll pay the fine.¡±


    Ji Yao weighed the key in his hand and noticed that there was a separate metal loop attached to Jiang Heng¡¯s key. It looked particularly out of place, as if something had once been hanging there but had later been removed.


    The metal loop seemed rather aged, with edges that weren¡¯t quite smooth. Holding it, he could feel its cold, hard touch.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Jiang Heng squinted his eyes and said, implying something. ¡°I¡¯ll pay.¡±

 CH 37

    At half-past six in the evening, traffic was congested all over Shanghai.


    Zhou Qingbo¡¯s bar was located in the old city area, where narrow alleys were occupied and overhead wires were strung across. The aroma of food wafted out from the cramped, low windows, infusing a touch of warmth into the chilly air.


    Ji Yao walked to the car, stealing a glance at Jiang Heng from the corner of his eye.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s car came equipped with a built in navigation system that automatically displayed options as soon as he got in, asking if the driver wanted to go ¡°home¡± or to the ¡°office,¡± eliminating the need for specific directions.


    So, from the moment they got into the car, Jiang Heng hadn¡¯t said a word to him.


    He reclined the seat a bit, wrapping his coat tightly around himself. He tilted his head slightly towards the outside, eyes closed, appearing as if he had already fallen asleep.


    Ji Yao rarely saw such obvious signs of exhaustion on his face and couldn¡¯t help but take several more glances at him.


    Jiang Heng was a disciplined person. Even among their well-off circle of friends, his self-control was among the best. He had a passion for his work, but he was also acutely aware of his physical limits. Unlike other lawyers who might lose track of time while working, Jiang Heng not only maintained regular meals throughout the day but also found time for exercise.


    In Ji Yao¡¯s view, Jiang Heng had a nearly scientific way of managing his energy. He knew his limits, so he rested and recharged to ensure that he wouldn¡¯t be so tired that it would affect his life and work.


    As Jiang Heng put it, it was the most efficient way of functioning.


    Ji Yao was used to seeing him full of energy, so seeing him like this was a bit unsettling.


    The car in front slowly inched forward, and Ji Yao repeated the mechanical actions of applying the gas and brake. The music from the car¡¯s sound system completed its playlist, looping back to the first track.


    Jiang Heng had excellent taste in music; most of the tracks were calming instrumental pieces, with a focus on piano and cello. Ji Yao¡¯s fingertips tapped in rhythm with the music, maintaining a calm composure amid the lengthy traffic jam.


    Outside, the colorful neon lights from the hair salons outside fell onto Jiang Heng, illuminating his shoulder and gradually lighting up half of his face.


    Ji Yao couldn¡¯t help but steal another glance at him. He suddenly realized that he had seen many different versions of ¡°Jiang Heng¡± in these past two months¡ªdisheveled, weary, distant, composed and capable, and now, tired like this.


    In these two months, he had seen more of Jiang Heng than he had in the three years of their romantic relationship.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s shallow breath intertwined with the piano¡¯s melody, creating an inexplicable atmosphere of tranquility. Ji Yao watched him tighten his collar and couldn¡¯t resist turning the air conditioning up by a couple of degrees.


    The lanes on both sides were filled with clutter and bicycles. Jiang Heng¡¯s car still had its protective film on, and Ji Yao drove with extreme caution, fearing he might scratch the car.


    Half an hour later, driving in this state of heightened alertness, Ji Yao merged into the main road. The navigation indicated a left turn, but Ji Yao ignored it. He drove a couple of hundred meters further before pulling over by the roadside.


    He parked the car, took out his phone and stepped out.


    The sound of the car door closing lightly reached Jiang Heng¡¯s ears, and he opened his eyes, looking toward Ji Yao¡¯s silhouette through the window.


    The temperature in Shanghai was quite low that day, with a light drizzle. Ji Yao tightened his collar and hurriedly entered a 24-hour pharmacy on the roadside.


    In reality, Jiang Heng hadn¡¯t actually fallen asleep; he was merely resting his eyes. He felt exhausted to the core, to the extent that he didn¡¯t even have the energy for casual conversation.


    The pharmacy had transparent glass doors, and from Jiang Heng¡¯s angle, he could clearly see Ji Yao.


    Ji Yao stood in front of the medicine counter, pointing to the display case behind it and exchanged a few words with the store clerk. Then, he nodded and wrote a few words on the purchase slip handed to him.


    Watching Ji Yao from the side, Jiang Heng felt as if the present moment had overlapped with a scene from several years ago.


    In the year following his moving in with Ji Yao, before Ji¡¯s parents forcefully intervened in their lives, there were periods when Ji Yao was particularly busy.


    During that time, Ji Yao was always working on his projects and preparing his graduation thesis, leaving him with little time to spare. Consequently, he temporarily moved back to his school.


    Coincidentally, Jiang Heng was interning with a law firm¡¯s legal aid team and had gone to a rural area in the western suburbs of Beijing. When they left, everything was fine, but due to inadequate preparation, they got caught in a heavy rainstorm on their return, and their car got stuck halfway.


    They spent over half an hour in the rain, struggling to move the car and finally managed to push it out. By the time they returned to Beijing¡¯s city center, it was already dark.


    Despite being young and healthy, Jiang Heng bore the brunt of the rain, and after taking a hot shower at home, he found himself feeling lightheaded and unsteady on his feet.


    At that time, their relationship with Ji Yao was still in a good place. They communicated via video calls almost every day, sharing updates on their lives. On that day, Jiang Heng was worried that Ji Yao might notice something, so he changed the video call to an audio call.


    Ji Yao was particularly busy that day and didn¡¯t seem to notice anything amiss. He exchanged a few words with Jiang Heng in passing and was then called away by his mentor and classmates.


    Jiang Heng was feeling quite miserable and decided to take a rest before heading to the hospital. Wrapped in a blanket, he inadvertently fell asleep on the couch.


    In a semi-conscious state, he drifted in and out of sleep, not knowing how much time had passed. He heard a faint sound from the living room, the fingerprint lock engaged, and the doorknob turned slightly. A gust of cool wind followed as it rushed in, making him shiver involuntarily.


    In the next second, a slightly cool hand reached over, touching his forehead.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite something,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Sleeping on the couch?¡±


    Jiang Heng grasped his wrist, pulled it to his lips, giving it a kiss. With narrowed eyes, he smiled at Ji Yao and asked, ¡°Why are you back?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a doctor, remember?¡± Ji Yao, at that time having completed his clinical medical training, said grumpily, ¡°Your throat¡¯s all scratchy, you think I couldn¡¯t tell?¡±


    From Jiang Heng¡¯s personal experience, Ji Yao was clearly not the angelic type of doctor who made people feel at ease. His professional attitude was rather ordinary; he rummaged through the medicine box while lecturing his patient from start to finish.


    ¡°When we have a date, you check the weather forecast. But when you¡¯re on a business trip, you conveniently forget,¡± Ji Yao scolded a bit roughly, handing Jiang Heng a cup of water. He said, ¡°Take your medicine and go to the bedroom. It¡¯s already past midnight. Also, sleep in a bit tomorrow.¡±


    As Ji Yao spoke, Jiang Heng had fully woken up. He sat on the couch, draped in the blanket, and glanced at the wall clock. Only then did he realize that it was already half past one in the morning.


    Ji Yao¡¯s shoulders sagged under the weight of the backpack he brought back. It was filled with materials he needed and unfinished assignments.


    He grumbled to Jiang Heng about how he ended up with all the work despite coming back for a visit. Skillfully, he took out a thermometer, measured Jiang Heng¡¯s temperature, and then brought him a cup of lukewarm water.


    After Jiang Heng finished his medicine, he was ushered back to his room. Ji Yao didn¡¯t join him; he stayed in the living room, rustling for about half an hour. Eventually, he walked in carrying a bowl of bland porridge.


    The air conditioning was set at a comfortable temperature. A warm glow radiated from the bedside lamp, and Ji Yao sat at the desk by the bed, continuing to work on his deadline. Jiang Heng sat cross-legged on the bed, slowly eating the unappetizing porridge.

 CH 38

    Ji Yao didn¡¯t return to school the next day. He skipped a group seminar and stayed at home until Jiang Heng was fully recovered before leaving.


    Ji Yao wasn¡¯t particularly skilled in cooking. The porridge he made for Jiang Heng was quite unsatisfactory.The more you ate towards the bottom, the stronger the burnt taste became, and by the end, it had an almost choking bitter taste.


    However, Jiang Heng managed to finish it, leaving nothing behind.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    Amidst the busy city traffic, neon lights intertwined. Jiang Heng licked his lips and suddenly found himself missing the taste of that porridge.


    At the pharmacy, Ji Yao took the plastic bag from the cashier, crumpled the receipt into a ball, and casually tossed it into the nearby trash bin by the entrance.


    Upon getting into the car, Ji Yao noticed that Jiang Heng was awake. He casually placed the medicine bag in Jiang Heng¡¯s lap.


    ¡°Take the medicine if your temperature rises above 38.5 degrees Celsius,¡± Ji Yao advised. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t reach that level, try other methods to lower the fever.¡±


    Jiang Heng glanced inside the bag and found two boxes of acetaminophen tablets and an electronic thermometer. He thanked Ji Yao.


    Ji Yao started the car and set off again. Jiang Heng held the two medicine boxes in his hands, adjusted his seat back to a normal angle, and seemed to have no intention of resting further.


    Ji Yao activated the turn signal, glanced at the movements of the car behind when making a turn, and then an unanswered question from before emerged in his mind again.


    ¡°Jiang Heng,¡± Ji Yao spoke up, ¡°During today¡¯s court session, Liu Qiang¡¯s initial statement had flaws. That wasn¡¯t up to your usual standard. Why didn¡¯t you address it?¡±


    Ji Yao paused for a moment and continued, ¡°If you had challenged him then, even if the falsified evidence had been discovered later, the judgment at that time would have required me to compensate.¡±


    He had wanted to ask this question at the bar, but Jiang Heng¡¯s condition had disrupted their conversation. Now, he couldn¡¯t hold back from asking.


    Ji Yao knew he was being a bit stubborn, but he couldn¡¯t help it. Wang Tao¡¯s speculation was one thing, but he wanted to hear it directly from Jiang Heng.


    Jiang Heng tied the plastic bag, seemingly uninterested, and said casually, ¡°When a client conceals information from their lawyer, the lawyer has the right to terminate the cooperation.¡±


    Of course, Ji Yao was aware of this, but this ¡°termination¡± clearly didn¡¯t refer to ¡°terminating on the spot.¡±


    Ji Yao hesitated for a moment, unable to hold back his urge to ask further, ¡°If he hadn¡¯t concealed anything, would you have been prepared to make me bankrupt through legal action?¡±


    Jiang Heng turned to look at him, and with a half-smile, he replied, ¡°what do you think?.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    He realized he couldn¡¯t get a straightforward answer out of Jiang Heng.


    Unable to extract an answer, he decided to give up, and he didn¡¯t initiate another conversation with Jiang Heng until he dropped him off at the entrance of his residential complex.


    Surprisingly, the entrance that should have been open was now blocked by barriers. Security personnel were maintaining order nearby. When they recognized Jiang Heng¡¯s car, they hurried over and knocked on the window.


    Ji Yao rolled down the window, and the security guard looked momentarily surprised before realizing Jiang Heng was in the passenger seat.


    ¡°Lawyer Jiang, the interlocking system for several of the gates in the complex is malfunctioning. We¡¯re in the process of repairing it, and cars can¡¯t enter right now.¡± The security guard hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Heng to return so early, saying with a puzzled expression, ¡°could you go out and come back after a few hours?¡±


    ¡°How long will it take?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure. The engineer hasn¡¯t arrived yet. It might take three to five hours?¡± the security guard replied.


    That was too long. Jiang Heng was obviously uncomfortable, and he just wanted to get home and rest.


    ¡°Is there another entrance we can use?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s no other. None of the gates are working,¡± the security guard, who had a good relationship with Jiang Heng, saw that he wasn¡¯t planning to leave, so he thought for a moment and proposed an alternative plan, ¡°If you¡¯re in a hurry to get home, how about leaving your keys with me? When the gates are fixed, I¡¯ll bring your car into the garage and leave the keys in the duty room.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Jiang Heng agreed readily and signaled Ji Yao to hand over the car keys.


    ¡°Thank you for today, Dr. Ji,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°You can drop me here. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal another day.¡±


    As Jiang Heng spoke, he opened the car door, stepped out, and appeared a bit unsteady. Ji Yao had originally intended to drop him off downstairs and leave, but seeing Jiang Heng in this state, he frowned and decided to see it through to the end in terms of ensuring his well-being.


    He handed the car keys to the security guard, took a few steps hurriedly, and supported Jiang Heng¡¯s arm.


    ¡°You seem to have good connections,¡± Ji Yao said with a somewhat cool tone.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because I have a friendly face.¡±


    During their conversation, they turned a corner. Suddenly, a seven- or eight-year-old boy, unable to stop in time, crashed into Jiang Heng. Something he was holding flew out of his hand and Jiang Heng instinctively shielded Ji Yao, resulting in him getting splashed with water.


    The boy seemed startled by the collision. Holding an empty plastic bucket, he bowed deeply.


    ¡°Sorry, Uncle Jiang,¡± the boy said with a distressed expression. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you.¡±


    As they spoke, a gray-haired old lady chased after the boy from behind, grabbing him and scolding him by smacking his bottom.


    ¡°You were running and you bumped into someone,¡± the old lady apologized in a hurry. ¡°Sorry, Lawyer Jiang. There¡¯s a parent-child clay modeling contest on the plaza, and he was too eager¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Jiang Heng said hoarsely, tugging at his soaked clothes. ¡°I¡¯m almost home, not feeling cold. Jun Jun, go play. Be careful next time.¡±


    The old lady still felt somewhat guilty. She handed him two oranges and then left with Jun Jun.


    Ji Yao glanced at Jiang Heng¡¯s soaked shirt, grabbed his arm, and led him towards the hallway, unable to resist a sarcastic comment. ¡°You sure are good at attracting bad luck.¡±


    ¡°Aaah, you noticed too?¡± Jiang Heng chuckled.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ji Yao looked at him sympathetically. ¡°I can even introduce you to a talisman for Mercury retrograde.¡±


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    Jiang Heng returned home but was stopped outside the residential area. He had barely taken a couple of steps when he was drenched with water. Ji Yao looked at him as if he were a truly unlucky guy and decided to see it through by escorting him home.


    Fortunately, Jiang Heng¡¯s home wasn¡¯t far from the entrance of the residential area. It only took a few steps to get there.


    His clothes were thoroughly soaked. After entering the house, he hesitated for a moment between ¡°welcoming Ji Yao in¡± and ¡°taking care of himself,¡± but Ji Yao spoke up first.


    ¡°Go take a warm shower,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Otherwise, you¡¯ll turn into a furnace in the middle of the night, and no one will be here to help you.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Jiang Heng didn¡¯t bother with formalities either. ¡°Water¡¯s in the kitchen, coffee¡¯s on the counter. Pour yourself whatever you want.¡±


    He took off his coat, tossed his phone and keys onto the cabinet, and walked barefoot into the bathroom.


    Ji Yao stood at the doorway, hesitating for a moment. Eventually, he decided to wait until Jiang Heng was done before leaving. He didn¡¯t want to risk Jiang Heng fainting in the bathroom and him becoming a prime suspect.


    He opened his phone, replied to a couple of messages, glanced at the notifications in his work group, and sent a ¡°received¡± message in the department group.


    While he was replying to messages, Jiang Heng¡¯s phone suddenly vibrated on the cabinet in the foyer. Ji Yao looked up and realized it was a call.


    At first, Ji Yao didn¡¯t pay much attention, assuming that if Jiang Heng didn¡¯t answer soon, the caller would hang up. However, the caller was persistent and made three consecutive calls without giving up.


    Ji Yao began to worry that it might be something urgent. He walked over to the bathroom door and called out Jiang Heng¡¯s name several times. However, whether it was due to the noise of the running water or the good soundproofing, Jiang Heng didn¡¯t seem to hear any of it.


    The incoming call continued to flash on the screen, and Ji Yao couldn¡¯t just ignore such insistent calling. He reluctantly answered the call, intending to explain on Jiang Heng¡¯s behalf.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Ji Yao spoke before the caller on the other side could start, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the owner of the phone isn¡¯t available right now. What can I help you with¡ª¡±


    He intended to say they could call back later, but before he could finish, a loud and casual male voice on the other end cut in.


    ¡°Are you his assistant?¡± The voice came with a lot of background noise, probably not able to hear Ji Yao clearly either, so it just carried on, ¡°Good, I can ask you. Did your boss, Jiang Lu, win the case today?¡±


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t react immediately.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for him all day. How can he not even send me a message? Do you know how hard it is to get a last-minute flight back to China?¡± The man on the other end complained endlessly, then remembered he was speaking to someone who wasn¡¯t the main person, so he quickly redirected the conversation, ¡°So, what¡¯s the result? If he lost, I¡¯ll just continue my vacation.¡±


    The rest of the conversation wasn¡¯t entirely clear to Ji Yao.


    Because Jiang Heng had finished his shower and emerged from the bathroom.


    With water dripping from his hair, wearing a loose bathrobe, he opened the bathroom door. He seemed surprised to see Ji Yao standing at the bathroom doorway.


    Ji Yao was hit by the warm steam that filled the room. His mind momentarily stopped, and he acted on instinct, handing over the phone to Jiang Heng.


    ¡°Your phone,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°It kept ringing, and since you didn¡¯t respond when I notified you in the bathroom, I answered it.¡±


    Jiang Heng took the phone, looked at the caller ID, and fell into a brief, strange silence. Then he answered the phone.


    ¡°Senior Brother.¡±


    Jiang Heng said that and nodded at Ji Yao before heading toward the balcony.


    He didn¡¯t scold Ji Yao for answering his phone without permission. Ji Yao let out a breath he didn¡¯t even realize he was holding, feeling the tension in his shoulders gradually relax.


    The information from the phone call, however, made Ji Yao curious. He turned his head, his gaze following Jiang Heng¡¯s silhouette.


    The balcony door was left slightly open, and Ji Yao stood at the bathroom doorway, catching faint traces of Jiang Heng¡¯s smiling voice.


    ¡°¡­ I forgot,¡± Jiang Heng said, his voice carrying amusement. ¡°I had too much to do today. Next time, I¡¯ll make it up to you. The case is settled without an appeal. Thanks for your help.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the busy person, juggling a thousand things a day,¡± Qian Xu laughed on the phone. ¡°Well then, get ready, I¡¯ll come back to Shanghai and give you a good scolding.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Jiang Heng replied. ¡°We¡¯ll have a meal together afterwards, invite Jingyi too. You can pick the place.¡±


    Qian Xu and Gao Jingyi were classmates from the same period, they were considered senior to Jiang Heng. Qian Xu was three years older than Jiang Heng, and they didn¡¯t have much interaction during their time in school. However, having the same mentor at work always made people feel closer, and it was easy to talk about anything.


    Six months ago, Qian Xu left the law firm he was with and started his own practice. Qian Xu and Jiang Heng were both top students in criminal law, and Jiang Heng had planned to introduce Qian Xu to Li Linghua¡¯s case if they failed to settle the lawsuit. But now that the case was settled, those plans wouldn¡¯t be necessary.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s settled then, as long as it¡¯s all good.¡± Qian Xu said casually, ¡°Alright, since there¡¯s no more work to do, I¡¯m going to Finland straight from here. After being stuck at Red Circle for seven or eight years, I¡¯ve practically become a cog in the wheel. Finally, I can take a break and enjoy myself.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Jiang Heng smiled and said, ¡°We¡¯ll catch up after that.¡±


    After a brief exchange, they hung up. Jiang Heng looked back and noticed Ji Yao still standing there, like a little gatekeeper by the bathroom door.


    Their eyes met, and Ji Yao opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.


    But eventually, Jiang Heng spoke first, ¡°Did you hear everything?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ji Yao nodded.


    Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow, seemingly not very surprised. He nodded and casually placed his phone on the coffee table.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Ji Yao asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because you really stumbled into the line of fire,¡± Jiang Heng said calmly. ¡°I¡¯ve looked into this matter, and I know the whole story. In that situation, Liu Qiang intentionally misled you, leading to the death of Li Wen. There was no way you could have avoided it without my help.¡±


    Water droplets from his hair fell on his bathrobe collar, and Jiang Heng seemed to find it inappropriate to have this kind of conversation in such a state. He adjusted his collar and turned to walk towards the bedroom.


    ¡°Moral justice might not be the standard of judgment, but if the law can prove its justice, there¡¯s no need to wrong a good person,¡± Jiang Heng closed the door, his voice faintly audible from the bedroom, ¡°If it weren¡¯t you in the defendant¡¯s seat, but another doctor, I would do the same.¡±


    Ji Yao walked to the bedroom door and leaned against it, asking, ¡°So if it were another doctor, would you also plan to introduce them to your mentor?¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, the bedroom door behind him was pulled open suddenly, and Ji Yao stumbled forward, nearly falling in.


    Jiang Heng had changed into casual home clothes and stood by the door, arching an eyebrow at him.


    ¡°Probably ,¡± Jiang Heng admitted straightforwardly, ¡°Regardless, you¡¯re a good doctor and shouldn¡¯t be affected by this.¡±


    As he said this, Ji Yao¡¯s gaze moved past Jiang Heng and settled on something behind him.


    Inside the bedroom, the wet bathrobe that Jiang Heng had taken off was draped on a clothes rack next to the wardrobe. The bedside lamp was turned on at its lowest brightness, casting a faint glow on a small area of the bed.


    Ji Yao suddenly saw it, a palm-sized three-dimensional storage rack on Jiang Heng¡¯s bedside table. A coin was embedded in the center of the rack, its surface bathed in a warm glow from the lamp.


    He only caught a glimpse, as Jiang Heng quickly closed the door behind him and walked towards the dining area to pour water.


    Ji Yao fell into silence all of a sudden. The anxiety he had been wrestling with settled like dust, leaving behind a thick layer of floating ash in his heart.


    He recognized that coin.


    In a way, it marked the ¡°beginning¡± of him and Jiang Heng. Back then, during their vacation in Hokkaido, he had believed Izumi¡¯s words, taking that step forward, and subsequently spent over two years entangled with Jiang Heng, only to end up parting ways in the end.


    There was something that started in brilliance but ended in bitterness¡ªJi Yao was well aware of this fact. Yet, despite his awareness, he had succumbed to the temptation and dashed toward the predetermined outcome.


    And now, that coin appeared on Jiang Heng¡¯s bedside table, and Ji Yao suddenly felt like he didn¡¯t need to ask anymore.


    Because he already knew the answer.


    ¡°Jiang Heng,¡± Ji Yao suddenly spoke, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have helped me like this.¡±


    His tone was light, carrying a subtle hint of pain, as if torn between hesitation and struggle. Jiang Heng¡¯s hand, busy pouring water, paused for a moment, effortlessly capturing Ji Yao¡¯s wavering heart.


    ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Heng asked casually.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m your ex-boyfriend,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°The ex-boyfriend who agreed to get married behind your back but was caught in the act.¡±


    He had finally voiced those words, feeling somewhat relieved.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s tone was familiar to him, implying that Jiang Heng already knew the answer for sure. Asking why was just a matter of providing an opportunity for him to ¡°confess.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Jiang Heng said, ¡°but you didn¡¯t get married.¡±


    Ji Yao ran a hand through his hair, turned in a circle where he stood, and the words ¡°I didn¡¯t¡± got stuck in his throat, unable to come out.


    Finally, he had no choice but to ask in a subdued tone, ¡°When did you find out?¡±


    ¡°When I was in the hospital, one of the nurses from your hospital told me,¡± Jiang Heng sat on the couch, tilting his head and smiling. ¡°She mentioned that your records indicated you were unmarried.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    It was amazing how careful one had to be. Because Jiang Heng looked good, the nurse couldn¡¯t help but tell him anything he wanted to know.


    ¡°Don¡¯t feel guilty. The past is the past, and we should all move forward,¡± Jiang Heng pushed a glass of water toward him, saying, ¡°Since you¡¯re struggling with this, how about you do me a favor? Consider it returning the favor.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Ji Yao quickly agreed, ¡°What favor?¡±


    ¡°My mom is coming back to the country soon. She wants to see if I¡¯m doing well,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°So I¡¯m thinking of asking you to pretend to be my boyfriend, just to deal with my mom.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­ ¡°

 CH 39

    In just two sentences, there were too many points to poke fun at. Ji Yao suddenly didn¡¯t know where to start with his questions. He sized up Jiang Heng, his expression a bit strange.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Heng chuckled, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a stone that just popped out of a crack?¡±


    From the first time he met Jiang Heng six years ago until now, this was the first time Ji Yao had clearly heard the words ¡°mum¡± from Jiang Heng¡¯s mouth.


    During the years they were together, every holiday and festival, Jiang Heng had always been alone in Beijing. Ji Yao had never seen him contact any relatives or family. Ji Yao had once speculated that there might be something complicated about his family situation. The best-case scenario was that they didn¡¯t get along, and the worst-case scenario was that his family was no longer around.


    Now, a biological mother suddenly appeared. Ji Yao instinctively felt like it was some sort of trap.


    However, Jiang Heng¡¯s choice of words was quite clever. The term ¡°pretend¡± easily bypassed Ji Yao¡¯s heavy concerns and made him instinctively reluctant to refuse.


    There was something stirring in Ji Yao¡¯s heart, and a somewhat tense, mysterious atmosphere seemed to permeate the air, elusive and intangible.


    He locked eyes with Jiang Heng for a moment. Jiang Heng wasn¡¯t wearing his glasses, his eyes and brows slightly curved, a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. He looked very open.


    Ji Yao inexplicably felt a bit nervous. He licked his lips, and the words of refusal spun around in his chest, but what actually came out was something else entirely.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°I agree.¡±


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t seem surprised by his agreement. He nodded in response and then took out his phone, unlocking it and displaying his WeChat QR code.


    ¡°Leave your contact information,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you know when my mom comes back.¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s palm was slightly sweaty as he held the phone. His grip on the phone seemed a bit slippery. He discreetly wiped his palm and then bent down to scan the phone screen on the coffee table.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s WeChat profile picture was simple, the same as three years ago before they broke up. Only the WeChat ID had changed.


    Ji Yao pressed the ¡°Add Friend¡± button, and he was suddenly overwhelmed by an instinctive panic.


    For a moment, he really wanted to ask Jiang Heng if he wasn¡¯t afraid of walking down the same old path. However, because of the words ¡°joke¡± and ¡°pretend,¡± he didn¡¯t have the grounds to ask, nor did he want to voice the question.


    ¡°Why me?¡± Ji Yao suddenly asked, ¡°If you¡¯re looking for a boyfriend, you should have plenty of real options.¡±


    ¡°I want to reassure her,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°We¡¯ve spent the most time together, have the best understanding of each other, and in her eyes, we won¡¯t show any signs¡ª¡±


    Jiang Heng paused, then chuckled, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t ask me to introduce her to someone I¡¯ve only been dating for a month, would you?¡±


    Valid point, Ji Yao thought, it makes sense.


    So Ji Yao didn¡¯t say anything more and tacitly agreed to the arrangement.


    Seeing his response, Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow, smiling at him.


    The new friend request had been sent out. Ji Yao held his phone, his fingers tightened and then loosened. He seemed to want to put the phone in his pocket, but the movement stopped midway.


    Jiang Heng considerately didn¡¯t expose his nervousness. He leaned down and tapped his phone.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting late,¡± Ji Yao said with a relieved tone, ¡°I should go now.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Jiang Heng stood up, gesturing a few steps towards the door, ¡°Take care on the way.¡±


    Ji Yao nodded and, when he reached the door, remembered something, turning to look at Jiang Heng.


    ¡°Don¡¯t open the window when you sleep tonight,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°If your fever reaches 38.5 degrees, remember to take medicine.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Jiang Heng readily agreed.


    Ji Yao had nothing more to say. He pursed his lips, bid his farewell, and turned to leave.


    But just as he was about to leave, Jiang Heng called out to him from behind, giving him a license plate number.


    Ji Yao turned around, confused. He saw Jiang Heng wave his phone at him and said, ¡°Ride-hailing car, waiting at the main entrance. It¡¯s a white car, the last four digits of the driver¡¯s phone number are 3769.¡±


    Ji Yao blinked.


    ¡°The destination is your hospital,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°You can change it after you get in.¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s heart was unexpectedly stirred, his hand gripping the door frame. For some reason, he found a sense of familiarity with Jiang Heng in this gesture.


    Jiang Heng, dressed in soft home clothes, had arranged the ride for him in advance because he was leaving. He stood under the warm light, warning him to be careful on the road¡ªthis scene looked so familiar, as if the three years of separation had never existed.


    Ji Yao was lost in thought for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He nodded and said thank you before turning to leave.


    Jiang Heng watched him for two minutes then closed the door before walking to the balcony and dialed Gao Jingyi¡¯s number.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Unless he was on a plane, Gao Jingyi¡¯s phone was accessible 24/7, and he answered it quickly, ¡°Are you still at the office? Do you need any documents? You have the key to my office anyway, so just go in.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Jiang Heng chuckled, ¡°Did you look at the files I sent you?¡±


    Gao Jingyi made a confused sound and quickly checked his messaging app. He found that Jiang Heng had sent him a pile of year-end summaries.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the New Year still a month away?¡± Gao Jingyi asked, puzzled, ¡°Why are you sending these to me now?¡±


    ¡°I want to take a break for a while,¡± Jiang Heng leaned against the railing, his eyes half-closed as he lit a cigarette, ¡°Apart from continuing with Li Linghua¡¯s case, I won¡¯t take on any new cases for a while.¡±


    Gao Jingyi was genuinely shocked this time. He thought that even a workaholic like Jiang Heng would never voluntarily say he wanted to take a day off¡ªit was truly a rarity.


    ¡°Is that true?¡± Gao Jingyi asked in suspicion, ¡°You want to rest? You?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°Can¡¯t I take a break?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the issue,¡± Gao Jingyi said, ¡°If you want to rest, I wholeheartedly agree. After all, you¡¯re General Manager Jiang, and your word is law.¡± After a pause, a hint of concern crept into his voice, ¡°But are you alright? Are you feeling unwell? Or is there something wrong at home?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a bit tired,¡± Jiang Heng said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll take a short break and recharge.¡±


    After all, humans weren¡¯t made of steel. Despite Gao Jingyi often saying that Jiang Heng was built with steel-reinforced cables and power lines beneath his clothes, he couldn¡¯t help but worry about this workaholic.


    Now that he had taken the initiative to soften and show vulnerability, Gao Jingyi thought it was a good thing.


    ¡°Then go ahead and rest, you¡¯re fine,¡± Gao Jingyi said, ¡°Anyway, the work before the New Year is just finishing up loose ends. With me watching, it¡¯ll be fine. Plus, you had surgery recently, so it¡¯s best to rest.¡±


    Jiang Heng thanked him and then hung up the phone.


    On WeChat, the new friend request popped up. Jiang Heng looked at the cartoon Christmas tree avatar and raised an eyebrow, accepting the friend request.


    He had initially wanted to click on the avatar to see Ji Yao¡¯s picture, but the large picture frame spun around twice and quickly refreshed into a picture of the night sky. At first glance, it seemed low-resolution, as if it had been hastily retrieved from some corner.


    Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, thinking that Ji Yao was quick to change things.


    In the residential complex, the parent-child competition on the square had not yet ended. As Ji Yao passed by the small square, he could still hear the lively cheers and shouts from inside.


    Grandma Li stood by the edge of the square with Jun jun. She saw Ji Yao approaching and greeted him with a smile, handing him two homemade throat sweets.


    The damaged access control gate system hadn¡¯t been repaired yet, and a line of cars was backed up at the entrance of the residential complex. Ji Yao squeezed through the crowded people, following the flow of the crowd as he made his way outside. The security guard at the entrance noticed him and opened the side door, ushering him out.


    The ride-hailing car was waiting at the entrance of the complex. Ji Yao checked the license plate and got into the car. He heard the driver report the last four digits of Jiang Heng¡¯s phone number.


    At the same time, his phone lit up, indicating that the new friend request had been accepted, and the contact appeared in his address book.


    During the short few hundred meters of the journey, Ji Yao once again sensed the subtle feeling he had when they were in love¡ªa feeling that Jiang Heng wasn¡¯t present, yet it seemed like his shadow was everywhere.


    All of this felt unfamiliar yet familiar. Ji Yao covered his eyes with his hand and took a deep breath.


    He felt something in his chest suddenly expand, filling his entire chest with a fullness that was almost a bit sour and tingling.


    Whether it was an illusion or not, Ji Yao even thought he could hear the sound of his own heartbeat, as if it were a drumbeat, resonating and making his chest tingle and numb. The voice in his mind that had been shouting was now even more clear, impossible to ignore.


    After a moment, Ji Yao suddenly burst into laughter without warning.


    By this time, on this winter night, Ji Yao finally had to admit that after all these years, he really did miss Jiang Heng.


    The driver was startled by his laughter and couldn¡¯t help but glance at him through the rearview mirror.


    In just a matter of moments, Ji Yao had sorted out his emotions. He leaned back against the seat, first inexplicably sending a 200 yuan red envelope to Ge Xing, and then with a slight movement of his finger, he opened Jiang Heng¡¯s chat box.


    The chat box was empty, containing only an automated system notification sent by the new friend. Ji Yao looked at the empty screen, his thoughts unconsciously pinning the message to the top.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s chat box quickly moved past Ji Yao¡¯s work group and department group chats, arriving at the top of his recent contacts with a blank page.


    Three years had passed, and it seemed like they had returned to where they started.

 CH 40

    The outcome of the trial was good, so Ji Yao returned to his normal work the next day.


    Amidst their busy schedules, Ji Yao¡¯s colleagues in the department took five minutes of their time to hold a short ¡°dispelling bad luck ritual¡± for him. The main procedure involved holding a cup of warm water, raising it to the sky, the earth, and Ji Yao, and then attempting to pour the remaining half cup of water into Ji Yao¡¯s hand, watching as he drank it.


    ¡°They¡¯re all skilled doctors, is this necessary?¡± Ji Yao said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°Stay away from outdated superstitions.¡±


    The colleague who covered his shifts the most raised his cup, waved his hand confidently, and said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with drinking water? Drinking eight cups of water a day is healthy!¡±


    Balancing scientific knowledge and superstition, it really felt like the attitude of a modern young person.


    A young nurse leaned against the door frame with a mischievous grin and chimed in, ¡°How¡¯s it going, Dr. Ji? My spell for reversing bad luck and banishing negativity was effective, right?¡±


    Seeing her, Ji Yao immediately remembered the incident where she had ¡°betrayed¡± him by talking to Jiang Heng behind his back. His temples throbbed in pain, and he pointed at her from across the room. Despite his gritted teeth and fierce expression, it lacked any real intimidation.


    The surgery department was incredibly busy that day, and the young people dispersed after a few minutes of chatting, each heading off to perform surgeries.


    Ji Yao had been absent for a few days, so he had a rare moment of leisure that morning. After finishing his ward rounds and completing his medical reports, he found himself with some free time and couldn¡¯t help but glance at his phone multiple times.


    The chat window with Jiang Heng had been in his contacts since the night before, and it remained quiet and still. The empty chat box stood out at the top of his contacts, drawing Ji Yao¡¯s attention from time to time.


    Jiang Heng was a composed individual who always seemed in control and unflappable, as if everything that happened was within his expectations. This made it difficult for Ji Yao to predict his intentions at times.


    He gradually realized he was becoming absent-minded. While he was in work mode, he could manage, but whenever he had a moment of leisure, his focus wavered. He would write two lines and erase four when attempting to write a paper, and he even accidentally picked up red sugar ginger tea instead of coffee while making himself a cup.


    He finally realized this couldn¡¯t continue. So, Ji Yao opened his phone, he couldn¡¯t help but clench his teeth and send Jiang Heng a message.


    ¡°Has the fever subsided?¡± he asked.


    It was now exactly 2 PM Beijing time, and Jiang Heng was likely busy with work, which explained the lack of an immediate response.


    Ji Yao walked to the tea room, disposed of the ginger tea powder, flicked off the water droplets from his hand, and made himself a fresh cup of coffee.


    It wasn¡¯t until Ji Yao was back at his desk that Jiang Heng¡¯s reply finally arrived, although a bit late.


    ¡°Much better.¡±


    Jiang Heng¡¯s response was cool and detached, but he also attached a photo, which slightly softened the sense of distance caused by the words.


    The photo displayed a digital thermometer reading, showing a temperature of 37.2 degrees Celsius, which had returned to normal.


    Ji Yao opened the image, then zoomed in and examined it more closely. He realized the photo had been taken in dim lighting, resembling an early morning shot.


    Jiang Heng wasn¡¯t the type to show vulnerability, so this photo was likely prepared in advance for someone specific, and the implication was clear.


    Ji Yao licked his lips, edited and re-edited his words in the chat box, and replied with a simple ¡°Got it.¡±


    This time, Jiang Heng didn¡¯t reply, but the previously empty chat box was now filled with text, and the photo occupied a third of the screen, making a significant impact.


    Satisfied, Ji Yao locked his phone screen and went on to do his serious work.


    On the 53rd floor of the Phase 1 Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Guojin Center, Jiang Heng put away his phone and motioned for the waiter to place the black truffle mushroom soup in front of the person across from him.


    ¡°Put the clear soup on my side, thank you.¡±


    Ge Xing looked up from his lamb chops, puzzled, at the clear and simple soup bowl in front of Jiang Heng. He asked with raised eyebrows, ¡°Are you a vegetarian now? why are you eating this plain?¡±


    ¡°Just taking care of my stomach,¡± Jiang Heng said as he put away his phone.


    ¡°sure,¡± Ge Xing signaled playfully, ¡°Let¡¯s just chat freely.¡±


    Last night, Ji Yao impulsively sent Ge Xing a red envelope. Unexpectedly, Ge Xing had sensed something unusual from it, and thus he acted swiftly, buying a ticket and flying over.


    For these rich second-generation individuals with money in hand, they were idle to the point of being restless all day long. If they encountered any gossip, they would eagerly listen, even considering taking a hot air balloon to hear it. Jiang Heng had returned to the company to sort some documents, but before he could finish his day, Ge Xing had intercepted him in the office building, inquiring about how he was ¡°doing lately.¡±


    Ge Xing was closer to Jiang Heng, so he didn¡¯t dare disturb Dr. Ji, who was busy saving lives. He only bothered his old friend


    Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow and didn¡¯t say anything, unlocking his phone screen and bringing up the chat interface. He slid his phone across the table to Ge Xing.


    Ge Xing made a surprised sound and, struggling with a ¡°this isn¡¯t right,¡± he wiped his hands and scrolled through the chat history.


    Unfortunately, their rekindled contact had been rather cool, there were only five messages in total, hardly enough to scroll through.


    ¡°Qingbo falsified the information,¡± Ge Xing said in distress, ¡°He clearly told me the bartender saw you two hugging and walking together.¡±


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    Rumors were truly dangerous. Just a couple of words from someone, and even the people involved wouldn¡¯t recognize themselves.


    ¡°Just regained contact, so there¡¯s not much to talk about,¡± Jiang Heng stirred the soup with a spoon. ¡°Let¡¯s take it slowly.¡±


    Having been friends with Jiang Heng for many years, much longer than Ji Yao, Ge Xing carefully observed Jiang Heng¡¯s expression and let out a faint sigh.


    He returned the phone to Jiang Heng and tentatively asked, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®taking it slowly¡¯? Do you still have feelings for him?¡±


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t have feelings, I wouldn¡¯t have come to Shanghai.¡± Jiang Heng smiled.


    Jiang Heng knew he had made a wrong decision back then.


    He should have used a more mature and straightforward approach to end the relationship between him and Ji Yao. Rather than leaving abruptly in the heat of the moment and disappearing from his life.


    From childhood to adulthood, Jiang Heng had always been aware of one thing¡ªacting immaturely could lead to trouble and countless problems.


    For example, Ji Yao.


    If he had been more composed at the time and said ¡°let¡¯s break up¡± on the spot, calmly addressing and straightening out the issues that had arisen, then they could have walked away with the situation untangled. Ji Yao might have felt upset and found it difficult to adjust, but after three years, he should have started a new phase of life and left the past behind, finding someone more suitable for him.


    But at that time, Jiang Heng hadn¡¯t said anything, so the unfinished business remained. It was like a lingering tail, preventing both of them from moving forward.


    ¡°What about him?¡± Ge Xing asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s not married and he came to Shanghai. That¡¯s the most obvious answer.¡± Jiang Heng said.


    ¡°Marriage¡± triggered Ge Xing¡¯s sensitive nerves. He had come all the way here to listen to gossip, and he almost sprayed his mushroom soup all over the table when he heard that word. He barely restrained himself and almost choked on his own emotions.


    ¡°Did he plan on getting married before?¡± Ge Xing asked puzzled. ¡°to someone else?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Heng affirmed.


    Ge Xing¡¯s eyes took on an odd expression for a moment. He looked at Jiang Heng for a while, then let out a soft sigh. He said, ¡°If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have played matchmaker.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not as serious as you think.¡± Jiang Heng said with a chuckle.


    ¡°So what are you planning to do?¡± Ge Xing asked. ¡°Give it another shot? Isn¡¯t it embarrassing to tread the same path again?¡±


    The question Ji Yao never managed to voice, relayed through Ge Xing, landed in Jiang Heng¡¯s ears once more. Jiang Heng smiled and reached for a napkin to dab at his mouth.


    ¡°Who would fall into the same pit twice?¡± Jiang Heng said softly.

 CH 41

    ¡°Really?¡±


    Ge Xing observed his expression, absentmindedly poking at the lamb chops with his fork, causing the tender and juicy meat to become distorted as it hung on the bone, on the verge of falling off.


    At times, Ge Xing felt that his old friend was good in every way, except for the fact that he was overly mature and rational. Among young men in their early twenties, how many weren¡¯t a bit reckless? Yet Jiang Heng had maintained the same demeanor for years, gentle and courteous, forgiving and kind hearted. Even when he had a falling out with someone, he would remain friendly and try to leave room for reconciliation.


    Such a person was good to have around, but over time, it was easy for people to overlook his own needs and take advantage of him.


    ¡°I still have to remind you,¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°Little Ji¡¯s family only has one son. Even if it seems like he¡¯s completely estranged from his family now, things might change in a few years.¡±


    Ge Xing was still the same as before, simultaneously playing matchmaker and tearing people apart, whether he wanted to bring people together or make them back off was still unclear.


    ¡°If his parents happen to fall ill or something major happens, he would go back to them, a child can never be so heartless to abandon his parents¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°I believe you¡¯re not one to fall into the same pit twice, considering your personality. But who can predict what will happen afterwards?¡±


    Two people who still had feelings for each other reuniting was a simple matter, but if years later, Ji Yao faced a choice once again, between his parents and his lover, that pit might reappear in front of them. At that time, whether they charged in headfirst, had another fallout, or politely parted ways, it would still be another instance of heartache.


    ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    He took a sip of the soup, seeming to find it a bit bland, so he added some black pepper to his soup bowl.


    Ge Xing knew that Jiang Heng had made up his mind, so he stopped trying to persuade him.


    ¡°But I¡¯m still curious, what do you like about him?¡± Ge Xing couldn¡¯t figure it out, ¡°You¡¯ve never been the type to hold onto someone like this.¡±


    When Ge Xing asked this question, an image suddenly popped into Jiang Heng¡¯s mind ¨C a bowl of bitter porridge. Memories intertwined with reality, and even his tongue seemed to recall the bitter aroma.


    Jiang Heng instinctively licked his lips, as if recalling that taste.


    ¡°Just small things,¡± after a moment, Jiang Heng smiled and said softly, ¡°They¡¯re all easy things to do, but only he does them willingly¡ªor rather, I only want to experience them through him.¡±


    Ge Xing had seen many relationships in his time, so when it came to playing matchmaker, he was exceptionally wise, to the point of being almost all knowing.


    With a single listen, he understood that Jiang Heng¡¯s feelings for Ji Yao were not some casual fling.


    Ge Xing recalled the random 200-yuan red envelope he had received in his WeChat contacts. Suddenly, he thought that three years later, maybe their story would have a different ending.


    ¡°Well, I won¡¯t say anything more,¡± Ge Xing said carefreely, ¡°If things work out, remember to send me a red envelope.¡±


    Jiang Heng chuckled as he heard this, ¡°You really are¡­ How about I send you a box of red-skinned eggs?¡±


    ¡°Sure, why not?¡± Ge Xing raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯ll gladly accept them.¡±


    Ge Xing had already turned his pitiful lamb chop into a piece of torn cloth, completely inedible. He put down his knife and fork, deciding not to push himself, and let go of the lamb chop.


    ¡°By the way, I¡¯m planning to stay in Shanghai for a few days,¡± Ge Xing¡¯s tone changed as he spoke, ¡°I¡¯ll be around. If you guys have anything fun to do, just give me a call.¡±


    When investigating the case involving Li Linghua, Jiang Heng had once used Ge Xing¡¯s connections to retrieve vehicle records for Li Wen from the race car club. Jiang Heng still owed him a favor for that.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°How about I treat you and we meet at Qingbo¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°That works too.¡± Ge Xing thought for a moment, took off his coat from the back of the chair, and stood up, saying, ¡°But I have some things to take care of these days. I¡¯ll call you after I¡¯m done.¡±


    Jiang Heng stood up as well, saying okay.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jiang Heng asked, ¡°Shall I drive you?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°You focus on your tasks. We¡¯re friends, no need for formalities.¡±


    Ge Xing waved his hand casually and left.


    He took the elevator downstairs and walked along the road for quite a while, finally flagging down a taxi by the side of the road near the Oriental Pearl Tower.


    The taxi driver spoke in Shanghai dialect, asking him where to go. Ge Xing accepted the red envelope that Ji Yao had sent him via WeChat while absentmindedly swiping his phone, then casually said, ¡°Go to Fushou Garden.¡±


    Half a minute later, Ji Yao¡¯s phone received a new WeChat notification. He was momentarily nervous when he saw it, but upon opening it, he realized it was a record of Ge Xing receiving the red envelope.


    ¡°Keep up the good work,¡± Ge Xing¡¯s message followed closely, ¡°I believe in you.¡±


    Ji Yao responded with a question mark, and Ge Xing quickly sent him a voice message.


    ¡°I¡¯m in Shanghai,¡± Ge Xing¡¯s voice held a hint of amusement, ¡°Just met Jiang Heng. Heard you two have hooked up again.¡±


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Ge Xing¡¯s choice of words was very much like him.


    Ji Yao wanted to say that they hadn¡¯t hooked up, but for some reason, he didn¡¯t say that. Instead, he changed the subject somewhat ambiguously.


    ¡°Why are you in Shanghai?¡± Ji Yao asked, ¡°Do you want me to host you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to check on my matchmaking services in Shanghai.¡± Ge Xing laughed, ¡°Our matters aren¡¯t urgent; we can meet again in a few days.¡±


    It seemed like Ge Xing¡¯s only hobby in life was matchmaking. Ji Yao almost choked on his coffee as he read those words.


    He didn¡¯t engage in meaningless conversations with Ge Xing anymore. He exited the chat and returned to his list of contacts.


    Over the next few days, Ji Yao¡¯s work settled into a routine, and he became busier than ever.


    However, his texting with Jiang Heng increased slightly, and they occasionally chatted about random things. They defaulted to a friendly relationship where they could share bits of their daily lives. Calling them ordinary friends might not be completely accurate, but they were far from being in an ¡°intimate relationship.¡±


    After all, they had shared the same bed for two and a half years. Even if their relationship had ups and downs, their communication and habits were deeply ingrained.


    On Wednesday, Jiang Heng came to the hospital for a follow-up on his post-operative condition, and coincidentally, it was during Ji Yao¡¯s outpatient hours.


    Ji Yao was unusually busy that morning, and Jiang Heng¡¯s visit was close to noon. So Ji Yao took a quick sip of water and asked him to wait outside while he finished up with the last patient.


    Since Jiang Heng was free, he nodded, sat in the waiting area, and waited for Ji Yao.


    This department saw all kinds of patients, and Jiang Heng had barely been sitting for five minutes before a young man with a cast on his arm approached him. Jiang Heng stood up and gave the student his seat.


    Jiang Heng was restless wherever he stood, so he finally ended up standing near the door of the consultation room.


    The consultation inside Ji Yao¡¯s office was still ongoing. There was one last family left, and the door wasn¡¯t closed completely, allowing Jiang Heng to observe from the hallway.


    The injured person was an elderly woman, surrounded by a group of young people, seated on the examination table in the middle. She held her left hand, trembling in pain. Ji Yao had a gentle expression as he bent down and sat on a stool in front of the elderly woman, carefully examining her injury.


    He was wearing a white coat and looked very patient. Leaning slightly, he pointed at the X-ray images while speaking to the elderly woman.


    Jiang Heng leaned against the wall across from the consultation room, observing him with interest for a while. He suddenly realized that Ji Yao had grown up ¨C this change was particularly apparent when he wore his white coat. He seemed to have shed his student-like innocence and transformed into a responsible adult.


    Since the consultation room door wasn¡¯t fully closed, Jiang Heng stood too close, and he could even hear bits of their conversation. He didn¡¯t intend to eavesdrop on someone else¡¯s privacy, so he moved a bit farther away and bought a coffee from a vending machine in the lobby on the first floor.


    When he returned, the group of patients had already left, and Ji Yao had finished his outpatient hours. He was speaking to the hospital receptionist, inquiring about Jiang Heng¡¯s whereabouts.


    Jiang Heng approached him from behind, holding the coffee in his hand.


    ¡°Drinking coffee on an empty stomach?¡± Ji Yao took the unopened coffee from him without hesitation, saying, ¡°I¡¯m confiscating this for the sake of your health.¡±


    Jiang Heng clicked his tongue lightly and smiled, ¡°Dr. Ji, there are surveillance cameras.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m responsible for your health, even if it means being filmed,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°Where are the X-ray images? Give them to me.¡±


    Jiang Heng handed the stack of blood test results and imaging films to Ji Yao. Ji Yao flipped through them and asked, ¡°Why did you only get the imaging done? What about the results of the endoscopy?¡±


    ¡°I was alone, so they wouldn¡¯t let me do it,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    An endoscopy required general anesthesia, and the hospital¡¯s regulations required that patients be accompanied by someone. Ji Yao furrowed his brows slightly and bundled the examination results together, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll accompany you.¡±

 CH 42

    It was nearing noon as the end of the work shift approached. Fortunately, the doctor on duty in the endoscopy room was familiar with Ji Yao, so she closed the curtain and conducted an examination for Jiang Heng.


    While Jiang Heng was undergoing the examination, Ji Yao sat in the waiting area, looking through the stack of x-ray examination forms.


    From the examination results, it was clear that Jiang Heng took his health quite seriously, though his immune system was indeed a bit weak, likely due to his busy work schedule. Ji Yao casually took out a pen from his chest pocket, drew a line under the white blood cell count, and prepared to say a few words to Jiang Heng later.


    The imaging results appeared normal. Ji Yao flipped through the examination forms one by one, circling values that were either high or low and noting them down on the back of the imaging report.


    After finishing all this, his professional habit kicked in, and he unconsciously started categorizing the forms into different groups. He pulled out the payment forms one by one and set them aside, neatly arranging them in his hand.


    About half an hour later, the door of the endoscopy room opened from the inside, and the young female doctor on duty waved at him.


    ¡°We¡¯re done,¡± the doctor handed him the report and pointed at it with her pen, saying, ¡°The recovery seems to be going well. The ulcer activity should be relatively low.  You can look at the remaining details yourself, right?¡±


    Ji Yao lowered his head to look at the report and nodded in response.


    ¡°Alright then,¡± the doctor clapped her hands and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to have lunch now. The new fast food place near the hospital entrance is really delicious. You should try it sometime.¡±


    ¡°Sure, thanks,¡± Ji Yao smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll treat you next time.¡±


    The female doctor waved her hand without being overly polite and said goodbye.


    After the doctor on duty left, Ji Yao pushed open the door of the examination room behind him. Jiang Heng was lying on the bed resting.


    He must have been woken up by the doctor once already. Half-closed eyes were resting on the bed, and his left hand was groping beside him, seeming to be looking for something.


    Ji Yao quickly took hold of Jiang Heng¡¯s hand, his movement familiar and intimate. His fingertips rested on Jiang Heng¡¯s palm, feeling a slightly cool sensation.


    In response Jiang Heng rubbed Ji Yao¡¯s slender wrist bone with his thumb. Ji Yao¡¯s heart trembled, and he instinctively tightened his grip on Jiang Heng¡¯s hand.


    The touch of their skin brought about an indescribable and unclear feeling. Ji Yao sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, a sense of weariness welling up from deep within.


    Considering his current relationship with Jiang Heng, this feeling wasn¡¯t exactly that of a ¡°weary bird returning to its nest,¡± but Ji Yao genuinely felt a sense of fatigue, as if he had circled around, and in the end, this person was still what remained in his eyes.


    Suddenly, Ji Yao recalled a casual conversation he had had with He Xiangyin a couple of days ago.


    After reconnecting with Jiang Heng, Ji Yao seemed to lose interest in other activities. He went straight from work to home, preferring to tidy up the house and sleep rather than going out for drinks and partying.


    He Xiangyin had tried to invite him out a few times but failed. Through subtle hints and persuasion, he managed to extract information about Jiang Heng from Ji Yao. He found it quite surprising.


    ¡°You¡¯ve reconnected with your ex-boyfriend?¡± He Xiangyin had said with a hint of lingering fear, ¡°Let me tell you, when exes get back together, there are usually only two outcomes: either they can¡¯t stand each other at all, or the old feelings are rekindled¡ªbe careful not to fall back due to this pretend relationship for his mum.¡±


    It was early evening at the time, and the lights outside were bright, with the hustle and bustle of traffic. Ji Yao held his phone, knowing that He Xiangyin couldn¡¯t see his expression, but he still lowered his eyes nervously and wiped off a bit of fog from the window.


    ¡°I know,¡± Ji Yao remained silent for a while, eventually sighing and saying, ¡°I really can¡¯t figure out his intention, but I can¡¯t refuse him, I owe him a favor.¡±


    Ji Yao was afraid of commitment, afraid of settling down, but even in his panic, he had spent three years living with Jiang Heng.


    He still couldn¡¯t fully trust any intimate relationship, but deep within, he had a willingness to get closer to Jiang Heng.


    For more than twenty years of his life, he had been constrained by family circumstances, and in the three years that followed, he had wandered aimlessly. Only during the years spent with Jiang Heng had he experienced a period of stability and freedom.


    During the years when Jiang Heng was absent, Ji Yao had assumed that they would never meet again. As a result, even the person Jiang Heng had become turned into a ¡°sensitive issue¡± that he wanted to avoid. He dared not even think about it, touch upon it. Even his old friends were contactable only with caution.


    But now Jiang Heng had reappeared, kindling a spark of warmth within Ji Yao. They had both agreed to ¡°reacquaint¡± themselves. Ji Yao found himself able to face this issue head-on.


    Looking at it this way, the few times Ji Yao had been defiant and resisted in his life were all because of Jiang Heng. He got the courage to stand up to his family all because of Jiang Heng.


    To Ji Yao, Jiang Heng was not just a gentle and considerate perfect romantic partner. He was the source of Ji Yao¡¯s courage on the rare occasions he stood his ground.


    Unfortunately, Ji Yao had resisted once, twice, but he hadn¡¯t held his ground in the most crucial matter.


    Ji Yao felt uncomfortable, not wanting to delve deeper into his thoughts. Subconsciously, he tightened his grip on Jiang Heng¡¯s hand.


    Jiang Heng seemed to be stirred by his movement and opened his eyes to glance at him. He was still not fully awake, so he asked Ji Yao in a drowsy tone, ¡°Where¡¯s the cake?¡±


    Ji Yao was momentarily taken aback.


    After waking up from general anesthesia, some people¡¯s minds wouldn¡¯t fully clear yet. They often mixed up the present with the past, leading to amusing situations. Ji Yao had been worried that Jiang Heng might start quoting legal clauses, but asking about a cake was unexpected.


    ¡°What cake?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    Jiang Heng gave him a brief look, furrowed his brows slightly, but didn¡¯t respond. He turned his head away, closing his eyes and fell silent.


    Ji Yao was left with a big question mark in his mind due to Jiang Heng¡¯s question. Sensing that Jiang Heng might not be in the best mood, Ji Yao thought for a moment and then took out his phone to send a message to the doctor who had been on duty in the endoscopy room.


    ¡°Are you still eating outside?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    The other person quickly replied with a thumbs-up emoji. Ji Yao hesitated for a moment and then asked, ¡°On your way back, could you pick up a cake for me from the bakery near the entrance?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± the person replied, ¡°What flavor?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Strawberry,¡± Ji Yao said.


    There was a strange silence for about ten seconds before the response came, ¡°¡­ okay.¡±


    Jiang Heng felt like he had slept for an unusually long time. He opened his eyes in a daze and noticed that the angle of the sunlight outside had changed significantly since he had entered the room. Ji Yao was sitting in a chair not far from the bed, using the check-up forms as a makeshift desk to write something.


    Jiang Heng cleared his throat. He coughed twice and asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°What time is it?¡±


    Ji Yao lifted his eyelids at the sound and glanced at him. Then, he checked the time on his phone.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite coincidental,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°In another fifteen minutes, it will be time for me to head back to work for the afternoon shift. Even if you wouldn¡¯t have fully woken up by then, I¡¯ll would have woken you up.¡±


    Jiang Heng was sensitive to anesthetics, and he was displaying some adverse reactions to propofol. He sat up from the bed in a slightly dizzy state. Ji Yao finished writing the last stroke, folded the stack of paper, and slipped it into Jiang Heng¡¯s coat.


    Then, Ji Yao draped the coat over Jiang Heng and helped him stand up. As he did, he slipped something into Jiang Heng¡¯s hand.


    Looking down, Jiang Heng discovered a cake box with a cartoon cat logo on it.


    ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± Jiang Heng asked in confusion.


    ¡°You asked for it yourself,¡± Ji Yao said with a straight face. ¡°Did you forget? When you were still under anesthesia, you insisted on having a cake. And it had to be strawberry flavored.¡±


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    Ji Yao had originally intended to tease him a little, fully prepared to be exposed by Jiang Heng right away. However, he hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Heng to be so easily fooled in this matter. Jiang Heng scrunched his brows, glanced at Ji Yao, then at the cake box, and thanked him with a slightly odd expression.


    Ji Yao hadn¡¯t anticipated that Jiang Heng would believe him so readily. It wasn¡¯t easy to backtrack and explain that he was just joking. So, Ji Yao forced down his urge to smile, almost causing himself some internal injuries.


    As Jiang Heng had come for a medical checkup, he hadn¡¯t driven himself. Ji Yao escorted him to the entrance of the hospital and watched him get into a taxi.


    ¡°Have the cake later in the evening,¡± Ji Yao instructed as he held onto the car door, delivering his medical advice with precision. ¡°Wait for a couple of hours until the dizziness subsides before you have a meal. Since the anesthesia hasn¡¯t fully worn off, it¡¯s best you don¡¯t go to work today. Head home and get some rest. I¡¯ve included the examination results and instructions at the back of the report. Take a look when you get home.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    Ji Yao nodded and was about to close the car door when Jiang Heng suddenly remembered something. He leaned out of the car and asked, ¡°Do you have time on Friday evening?¡±


    ¡°Friday? Yes,¡± Ji Yao replied. ¡°What¡¯s up? Is Auntie coming?¡±


    ¡°Ge Xing is returning to Beijing and wants to meet us,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°Friday evening at 7:30, at Zhou Qingbo¡¯s place. You¡¯ve been there before.¡±

 CH 43

    On that Friday, Ji Yao wasn¡¯t on duty. He handed over his work as usual and bought a gift for Ge Xing from the lounge. He braved the rush hour and took the subway.


    Zhou Qingbo wasn¡¯t short on money. Running a bar was half out of interest and half for fun, so he didn¡¯t care much about customer flow. The location he chose was quite unique. Taxis rarely passed by there, and the subway was more efficient.


    Ji Yao ended up being the last one to arrive.


    Zhou Qingbo¡¯s boyfriend worked in auditing and was constantly flying around for work, spending more time on business trips than in the office. So, he didn¡¯t attend the gathering this time.


    ¡°Ji Yao!¡± Zhou Qingbo spotted Ji Yao as soon as he walked in and waved at him.


    The bar wasn¡¯t crowded. They knew each other well and decided to set up a small corner next to the bar, gathering around a foldable table and peeling salted peanuts.


    Jiang Heng seemed to remember the advice to smoke less, drink less, so instead of his usual iced whiskey, there was a clear cocktail in front of him.


    Ji Yao sat down next to him and looked at the drink for a while.


    ¡°No alcohol,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°it¡¯s mint-infused water as the base.¡±


    Ji Yao was quite pleased with his awareness. He reached into a plastic bag he was holding and pulled out a bottle of milk, handing it to him.


    Jiang Heng took it and felt that the milk was still warm. He opened the bottle and placed it next to the cocktail.


    ¡°Just got off work?¡± Jiang Heng handed him the peeled salted peanuts and asked, ¡°Have you eaten?¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t have time,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Qingbo, can you get me some snacks?¡±


    Just as he finished speaking, a man in a Meituan delivery uniform suddenly rushed into the bar. He was holding a sandwich in a square box and looked around with his phone, asking, ¡°Who¡¯s Mr. Ji Yao?¡±


    Ji Yao instinctively looked at Jiang Heng. Jiang Heng threw a salted peanut into his mouth and said, ¡°Courtesy demands reciprocity, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Zhou Qingbo stood at the bar, half of his body leaning against it, witnessing everything from beginning to end. He looked surprised and suspicious, his gaze constantly shifting towards Ge Xing.


    If it were any other friend, he might have made some teasing remarks, but since the main characters were the two of them, Zhou Qingbo was cautious with his words.


    He took a sip of his drink and started frantically texting Ge Xing.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Qingbo typed two exclamation marks on the screen in frustration. ¡°Didn¡¯t they used to fight endlessly and never want to see each other again?¡±


    Ge Xing was nearly choked by Qingbo¡¯s text. He replied with a question mark, asking, ¡°Who said that?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what people say?¡± Zhou Qingbo asked in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s happening between them now?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask me,¡± Ge Xing had also not figured out the situation ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡±


    Originally sitting next to Jiang Heng, Ge Xing stopped replying to Zhou Qingbo after that sentence. He placed his phone face down on the bar counter, leaned against it, and waved at Ji Yao with a smiling expression.


    ¡°Long time no see,¡± Ge Xing said. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s been forever since we met in person.¡±


    Ji Yao knew that Ge Xing was half-complaining about him in front of Jiang Heng. He smiled and didn¡¯t say much, placing the prepared gift on the bar and pushing it towards Ge Xing.


    ¡°It¡¯s a Gaotiao cake,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Not expensive, just enjoy it.¡±


    After breaking up with Jiang Heng, Ji Yao had left Beijing after only a few months and moved to Shanghai to seek new opportunities. Due to the shift in his social circle and the aftermath of the breakup, Ji Yao didn¡¯t interact with these old Beijing friends very often. They would only exchange greetings during festivals and holidays.


    Ge Xing also didn¡¯t invite them for drinks as often but he always felt nostalgic and wanted to gather with his old friends again.


    None of them were young kids anymore. Reuniting with old friends after a long time, even though they weren¡¯t strangers, there were always many things they wanted to say but couldn¡¯t put into words.


    Life was difficult, whether they were well-off or not. However, their age had already passed the point where they could complain about things, so after a few rounds of drinks, Jiang Heng, the only one who hadn¡¯t had a sip of alcohol, stood up from this lukewarm atmosphere and asked where the smoking area was.


    ¡°Back there, go up the stairs next to the storage room, to the second floor, and there¡¯s a small rooftop,¡± Zhou Qingbo leaned against the bar and pointed in that direction. ¡°Just be careful not to throw cigarette butts around. This is an old building; watch out for fires.¡±


    After Jiang Heng left, only Ji Yao and Ge Xing were left by the bar. Ge Xing looked at Ji Yao¡¯s expression, squinted his eyes as he sipped his drink, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Jiang Heng¡­ ?¡±


    Ji Yao wasn¡¯t surprised that he brought up this topic. Ge Xing¡¯s lifelong goal was to pair people up, and no conversation with him was complete without discussing major life events.


    ¡°Not much going on,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°It¡¯s just as you see it.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to reconcile?¡± Ge Xing asked.


    Ji Yao pursed his lips. He held his glass by the rim and turned it under the light, the dark amber liquid reflecting the dim lights of the bar.


    ¡°He¡¯s changed,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°Back then¡­ he was good. He has a temper, but his heart was soft..¡±


    ¡°So, is it because he¡¯s changed or because you¡¯ve changed?¡± Ge Xing asked, probing for the truth.


    Ji Yao didn¡¯t respond for a long time. He finished his drink and pushed the empty glass aside. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. It¡¯s all in the past.¡±


    Ge Xing¡¯s fingers toyed with his own glass, his wrist hanging down from the bar counter. He sat in the swivel chair and turned around, his back against the bar. Suddenly, he reached out and clinked glasses with Ji Yao.


    ¡°Do you know how I met Jiang Heng?¡± Ge Xing asked.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it in Beijing?¡± Ji Yao inquired.


    Ge Xing¡¯s family business was based in Beijing, and in Ji Yao¡¯s memory, Ge Xing rarely left the city.


    ¡°It was in Shanghai,¡± Ge Xing tapped the bar counter with his glass and said in a low voice, ¡°In the old city area, to be precise.¡±


    Ji Yao looked at him puzzled, unsure of why he brought up this topic.


    Ge Xing fell silent for a moment, took a sip of his drink, and then raised his eyebrows, winking at Ji Yao.


    ¡°Let me tell you a secret that even Jiang Heng doesn¡¯t know,¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°Actually, I came to Shanghai because I was eloping with my lover.¡±


    He didn¡¯t use words like ¡°ex¡± or ¡°first love or boyfriend,¡± so Ji Yao straightened up a bit, preparing to address the topic with a more serious attitude.


    But the problem was, Ji Yao had known Ge Xing for many years, and he had never heard him mention having a lover.


    Ge Xing, frequented nightclubs, bars, and other entertainment venues day and night. His network spanned various corners, and he spent three hundred and sixty-five days a year enjoying the nightlife.


    However, he never seemed interested in dating. He didn¡¯t have any companions around him, always coming and going alone. When friends playfully asked him, he would say he was a ¡°lover of all,¡± not tied to anyone.


    Now, hearing the words ¡°lover¡± from him, Ji Yao couldn¡¯t help but find it incredulous.


    ¡°A lover?¡± Ji Yao asked, ¡°Then what happened between you two¡ª¡±


    Ji Yao wanted to ask if they broke up, but Ge Xing seemed to anticipate his question and took a sip of his drink, cutting off his words.


    ¡°He passed away,¡± Ge Xing said matter-of-factly.


    Sometimes life is more melodramatic than a bad TV drama because works of art need logic and reason, while reality doesn¡¯t.


    Fate concludes suddenly, unnoticed by anyone, without even needing an explanation.


    ¡°His name was Shen An,¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°Three years older than me, sort of my¡­ childhood sweetheart?¡±


    When he mentioned the name, Ge Xing¡¯s smile seemed to fade a lot. He appeared as if a layer of sadness had enveloped him, radiating a sense of decay that had accumulated over the years.


    It was as if he had finally peeled away the protective film covering himself, revealing a tiny bit of his true self.


    ¡°In fact, I didn¡¯t like racing. He did.¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°He won the CRC championship on his 18th birthday. He was so happy that day, he even gave me the trophy.¡±


    Shen An was an extremely outgoing person, strikingly beautiful, living like a phoenix flower, naturally passionate and radiant, always the center of attention wherever he went.


    Three years older than Ge Xing, he had always treated the little bean sprout trailing behind him as his possession. He protected Ge Xing wherever they went. When he was young, he even told adults several times that he would marry his ¡®little brother¡¯.


    Shen An naturally drew attention, while Ge Xing was naturally attracted to men. So, he himself didn¡¯t know when and why he fell for Shen An. But by the time he realized it, his heart and eyes were already filled with Shen An.


    The passionate love of youth is intense and unreserved, just like Shen An himself. Their relationship quickly caught the attention of their parents, who unsurprisingly strictly opposed it.


    Rebellious and self-absorbed during the passionate teenage phase, Shen An was only nineteen at the time, and he braved a major snowstorm to travel from his home to Ge Xing¡¯s. He held his hand through the window, his eyes slightly red from the falling snowflakes.


    ¡°Let¡¯s elope,¡± Shen An said.


    Ge Xing wasn¡¯t yet of legal age, but when he saw Shen An¡¯s eyes slightly reddened by the snow, a string of rationality in his mind suddenly snapped. Fueled by youthful passion, he gathered the courage to take a daring step, as though as long as he held this hand, it didn¡¯t matter where they went.


    Looking back now, the ¡°elopement¡± at that time was naive and impulsive.


    ¡°In retrospect, it was quite foolish. We were young, inexperienced in hardships, and lacked life experience,¡± Ge Xing suddenly chuckled, saying, ¡°When people elope, they usually go to remote places. But we ended up in Shanghai, and after running away, we not only survived, but we also managed to maintain a good quality of life.¡±


    At the time, Shen An still had over four hundred thousand yuan in his bank account, while Ge Xing was as clean as a slate. He left home with nothing but an impulsive determination to be with Shen An.


    Both of them were young men from well-off families, but after arriving in Shanghai, they rented an apartment that cost half of their savings for the entire year.


    In the initial months, they enjoyed a carefree life. Once they left Beijing, it was as if they had escaped the confines of a cage, and they could openly hold hands, kiss, and be more intimate with each other, experiencing a pure and passionate love.


    Their love burned like a raging flame, capable of shattering all the blows of reality.


    However, within a few months, they began to realize that things weren¡¯t going well¡ªmoney in their pockets was dwindling, and their utopian love was giving way to challenges of everyday life.


    Ge Xing still remembered the day when their savings were almost depleted. Shen An sat cross-legged on the living room carpet, counting the balance in his messages multiple times.


    That day was the first time Ge Xing had felt panic. He realized that things had slipped out of control, and he became restless and anxious.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Shen An held his hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ll figure something out. I brought you out here; I won¡¯t let you suffer.¡±


    Shen¡¯s family was wealthier than Ge¡¯s, and Shen An had been pampered and cherished since childhood. However, the next day, Shen An went out looking for a job.


    He was nineteen, hadn¡¯t even finished university, and he eloped. With no degree and no connections, no one was willing to hire him. Finally, after searching for half a month, he found a job as an auto mechanic.


    He used to spend six-figure sums just on car parts, but now he was covered in grease, earning a monthly salary of four thousand yuan.


    ¡°He really tried,¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°He was willing to give up a comfortable life, just to be with me, even if it meant working as a car mechanic.¡±


    Ge Xing was truly moved back then, but panic was real too.


    Every day, Shen An came home exhausted, with bruises and injuries. In a matter of months, he had lost a significant amount of weight.


    Ge Xing was heartbroken to see him suffer like this, but that¡¯s precisely why he couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to Shen An¡¯s hardship. He couldn¡¯t understand what love truly was.


    He couldn¡¯t come to a conclusion. The heart of a young teenager can¡¯t balance pros and cons, nor can it bear the burden of such painful self-reproach and helplessness. So, he went out, bought a bunch cocktails from a convenience store, and sat on the curb, drinking recklessly. He then made a decision.


    But in the midst of his drinking, he forgot one crucial thing.


    ¡ªDuring that time, Shen An had wanted to advance to the position of a high end car technician, so he would often look up information online after work, preparing materials according to the current market demand.


    However, Ge Xing had rushed out too quickly, leaving the flight booking page open on the desktop computer and left.


    ¡°That day, it rained heavily in Shanghai. Shen An drove a customer¡¯s car from the auto repair shop to find me. Unfortunately, he got into an accident,¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°He stepped on the gas and the brake pedal at the same time, crashing into a lamp post. He died on the spot.¡±


    Up to this point, Ge Xing still didn¡¯t know whether Shen An had seen the flight booking information left on his computer desktop when he got home.


    He didn¡¯t know if Shen An saw it and wanted to confront him about it, or if he simply came out to pick him up because of the heavy rain. Ge Xing would never know the answer in his lifetime.


    If Shen An hadn¡¯t died, many years later, perhaps this incident could still be brought up as a topic of conversation.


    But precisely because he died, everything changed and he would never get to see Shen An again.


    ¡°All that courage, love, and persistence suddenly transformed,¡± Ge Xing took a sip of his drink and said, ¡°It turned into failure, betrayal, a fall from grace, and a complete defeat.¡±


    Just like how Shen An was a top racing driver, yet he died due to accidentally pressing the gas and brake pedals incorrectly. The unanswered question was destined to ferment into a bitter fruit in Ge Xing¡¯s heart.


    That¡¯s just how fate works¡ªOn the left was an unfortunate coincidence, on the right was a missed opportunity; both were painful.


    ¡°At that time, we didn¡¯t have a penny in savings. I sold the Patek Philippe watch we got as a symbol of our relationship, bought a new car to replace the one wrecked for a client, and used the remaining 200,000 to buy a burial plot for him.¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°Then, I went to the bar penniless, and that¡¯s where I met Jiang Heng. He paid the bill for me.¡±


    Ji Yao¡¯s heart was twisted like a rag. He took a breath of cold air, not even knowing how to evaluate this situation.


    ¡°Family is important,¡± Ge Xing said softly. ¡°But when you¡¯re in pain, regret, and can¡¯t sleep at night because of it, they can¡¯t share the burden with you. The excitement of ¡®having family¡¯ isn¡¯t enough to make up for the pain you go through alone. So, in many situations, you have to think for yourself.¡±


    Ji Yao understood what Ge Xing was saying. He clenched his glass, and his knuckles even turned slightly white.


    ¡°It¡¯s good if regrets can be compensated,¡± Ge Xing said, ¡°But don¡¯t wait until the end to realize that your biggest regret is not speaking up and missing the opportunity.¡±


    Ji Yao suddenly stood up.


    Ji Yao felt like his forehead was being tightened, as if something was chasing him and forcing him to take that step.


    Ge Xing was intentionally poking at him, and Ji Yao could tell. But if he just slightly put himself into this story, he could not imagine what he would have done in Ge Xing¡¯s position.


    Ji Yao¡¯s chest heaved heavily for a moment. The strong liquor he drank burned from his throat to his heart, causing him pain that made his entire body shiver.


    So he didn¡¯t say a word and turned to walk towards the second floor.


    Ge Xing watched his retreating figure, hooked the bottle of alcohol Zhou Qingbo hadn¡¯t taken back yet with his fingertip, poured himself another half glass of brandy.

 CH 44

    On the small terrace of the second floor, Jiang Heng¡¯s cigarette was only half smoked.


    When the rusty iron gate was pushed open, it made a noticeable creaking sound. Jiang Heng turned his head and met Ji Yao¡¯s gaze.


    Jiang Heng gave him a quick once-over, noticing a hint of redness in Ji Yao¡¯s eyes. Without saying anything, he moved a couple of steps aside to make some space for him.


    Ji Yao closed the door behind him and stood next to Jiang Heng.


    The old district had poor sound insulation and limited visibility. Everywhere one looked, there were old houses of various heights, tangled electric wires, and warm yellow light seeping through wooden window frames.


    The lights from each household merged into a patchwork, mingling with the lingering aroma of meals not yet fully dispersed in the air. At first glance, it seemed as though everyone in the world had found their place.


    Ji Yao¡¯s gaze extended beyond the night, past the multitude of lights, and settled into the darkness.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t ask why he had come up here. With a cigarette between his fingertips, he flicked the ash lightly into the abandoned sink.


    ¡°Jiang Heng,¡± Ji Yao fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, ¡°Back then, were you disappointed in me?¡±


    Having shared intimacy and sincere interactions, the unspoken understanding between them allowed Jiang Heng to grasp Ji Yao¡¯s meaning without needing further explanation.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t know why Ji Yao had suddenly brought up this topic, but he understood that if he and Ji Yao wanted to continue on this path, they would eventually have to confront these issues.


    So, he took a moment to recall and spoke the truth.


    ¡°I¡¯ve kind of forgotten,¡± Jiang Heng said, ¡°But maybe I was.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t quite remember how he felt when he found out about this. The complex and fleeting emotions had become blurred over time. When he tried to remember, he could only grasp bits.


    It seemed like a workday back then. Jiang Heng was busy sorting through the final batch of documents, frowning at an old paper, when his phone on the table buzzed and a new WeChat message popped up.


    By that time, the frequency of contact between Jiang Heng and Ji Yao had already decreased. Unexpectedly, in that in-between time, he received a new message. He thought it might be Ji Yao texting him secretly from under his parents¡¯ watchful eyes.


    A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and he reached out to pick up his phone from the table. However, after unlocking it, he realized that the message wasn¡¯t from Ji Yao, but from a friend.


    ¡°Is this your boyfriend?¡± The wording was cautious: ¡°Well, there¡¯s something I have to tell you¡ª¡±


    After that message, the chat was silent for a moment, then a one-minute video suddenly appeared.


    In the video, Ji Yao stood beside a young woman, gesturing towards the arrangement in the banquet hall and saying something. Several middle-aged people were following them. Jiang Heng had seen Ji Yao¡¯s parents at the school gate before, so it was easy to guess the identities of the remaining individuals from their behavior and interactions.


    ¡°They¡¯ve come twice already and booked the peony garden in the wedding banquet area.¡± The friend seemed hesitant about whether to share this news with Jiang Heng. The ¡°typing¡­¡± indicator lingered for three to five minutes before another message arrived: ¡°Of course, it might be a misunderstanding. I suggest you ask him to clarify.¡±


    In that instant, the gears in his mind seemed to halt. Before he could even summon feelings of ¡°anger¡± or ¡°betrayal,¡± a remarkably calm thought flashed through his mind.


    beyond expectation, unreasonable Jiang Heng thought.


    Ever since their reunion, Ji Yao might have wanted to ask him this question. Now that the thorn had been extracted, it hurt him while also providing a strangely relieving sense of pain.


    ¡°So, did you try to hook up with someone else because of that?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jiang Heng answered promptly, putting out the remaining third of his cigarette on the railing and flicking the butt into the trash bin by the door.


    From the day he learned about Ji Yao¡¯s engagement, Jiang Heng knew their relationship had reached its end.


    But he couldn¡¯t let go of Ji Yao.


    Although Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t accept having a partner who was married to someone else, he couldn¡¯t easily say the words ¡°break up.¡± He told himself that it was over between them, yet for the first time, his emotions clashed with his rationality. They stood in a standoff, neither side winning, almost tearing Jiang Heng apart.


    And so, he made a wrong choice.


    ¡°I wanted to end our relationship,¡± Jiang Heng said.


    His bottom line was cheating and betrayal. So, He initially thought of using this desperate move, to sever their ties and eliminate his own fantasies.


    ¡°Little did I know you¡¯d come back that day,¡± Jiang Heng chuckled lightly and said, ¡°Maybe it was fate.¡±


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t come back, would you have slept with him?¡± Ji Yao asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Jiang Heng admitted truthfully.


    He didn¡¯t want to, but in that particular atmosphere and under special circumstances, he might have pushed himself to do so.


    Jiang Heng was the most rational among their group, but even that rationality could become a blade, one that might ultimately cut into himself.


    ¡°So, in all these years, you really haven¡¯t been with anyone else?¡±


    When Ji Yao asked this question, he already had an answer in his heart¡ªJiang Heng¡¯s answer was almost certain.


    ¡°No,¡± as expected, Jiang Heng said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t start a new relationship before fully letting go of the previous one. It wouldn¡¯t be fair to the next person.¡±


    Jiang Heng was an honest person, clear in his loves and hates. He didn¡¯t hide anything unless he didn¡¯t want to answer. In those cases, he would remain truthful.


    This honesty made Ji Yao both relieved and saddened.


    Ji Yao took a deep breath and turned to look at Jiang Heng.


    Jiang Heng was wearing glasses. The silver half-frame glasses perched on his nose made him seem somewhat distant.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s nearsightedness wasn¡¯t severe, and it didn¡¯t affect his daily life much. He only wore glasses when working for extended periods or when meeting new clients, using them to enhance his presence.


    Sometimes Ji Yao felt that this was Jiang Heng¡¯s way of self-protectin.


    And today, Ji Yao wondered, what was he trying to shield?


    He looked through the thin lenses at Jiang Heng¡¯s eyes, suddenly feeling the impulse to kiss him.


    However, Ji Yao wasn¡¯t drunk. He was fully aware that there was more than just these few words standing between him and Jiang Heng. There were many other things too.


    Still, even with that understanding, he didn¡¯t want to do nothing.


    ¡°Jiang Heng,¡± Ji Yao suddenly asked, ¡°Can I hug you?¡±


    ¡°Why all of a sudden?¡± Jiang Heng asked in return.


    ¡°You did ask me to pretend to be your boyfriend. We should practice in advance,¡± Ji Yao licked his lips, heart racing, ¡°In the role of a pretend boyfriend.¡±

 CH 45

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow, smirking as he asked, ¡°practice and pretend boyfriend, do those two words have the same meaning?¡±


    Ji Yao also realized that playing word games with a lawyer was a bit demeaning, so he chuckled without saying anything. He simply moved a bit closer to Jiang Heng, lightly touching his hand.


    While Jiang Heng didn¡¯t spare any words in exposing Ji Yao¡¯s little intentions, he still didn¡¯t avoid them.


    His hand rested on the old railing, chilled by the night breeze, and Ji Yao¡¯s body temperature was slightly higher than his, which became even more noticeable in the biting cold.


    He allowed Ji Yao to get closer and even turned slightly to the side, tilting his head down to look at him.


    Ji Yao knew that this was his approval, so he slowly took a step forward, reaching his hand around Jiang Heng¡¯s waist, and lightly embraced him.


    He held him carefully, not using much strength at all. It wasn¡¯t so much an ¡°embrace¡± as it was an encircling of Jiang Heng, a social distancing that could be withdrawn from at any moment.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s hand gripping the railing tightened slightly, as if he wanted to lift his hand to hug Ji Yao back, but for some reason, he restrained himself.


    Ji Yao took a deep breath, the cool and slightly bitter aroma of tobacco filtering into his nostrils and then settling as a long exhale, filled with years of memories.


    Familiar, Ji Yao thought, yet also unfamiliar.


    Jiang Heng had lost a bit of weight compared to a few years ago, but he stood straight, his back taut. Ji Yao¡¯s hand, separated by a thick coat, was on his back, making it seem like he was a bit nervous.


    Just as he could recognize Jiang Heng by his back after three years, this embrace also left a lasting impression on him.


    ¡°What do you like about me?¡± Ji Yao suddenly asked.


    His voice was soft, as if he was asking Jiang Heng, yet as if he was asking himself. This question seemed like a product of impulsive words triggered by alcohol, and it came from his mouth without warning.


    But after saying it, Ji Yao didn¡¯t regret it.


    Because he really didn¡¯t understand.


    He had thought that, according to Jiang Heng¡¯s personality, breaking up should be a clean-cut forgetting about this ¡°tainted ex-boyfriend,¡± and searching to find a more suitable partner according to his preferences.


    However, Jiang Heng hadn¡¯t. He hadn¡¯t found anyone else, and for three years, he hadn¡¯t even changed his bank card password.


    Just as with Li Linghua¡¯s case, if Jiang Heng wanted revenge through the case, he would have and Ji Yao would feel wronged, feel indignant at most. But Jiang Heng hadn¡¯t done that. Not only did he help, but he also cleared Ji Yao¡¯s name in a splendid manner.


    As a result, Ji Yao couldn¡¯t help feeling guilty and feeling somewhat inexplicably sad.


    He felt as if he wasn¡¯t worth it, yet at the same time, he couldn¡¯t control the hidden joy welling up from his heart.


    ¡°There are plenty of people who like you,¡± Ji Yao continued to hold the position of hugging, as if this distance allowed him to gather the courage to continue speaking, ¡°There should be many who are better than me.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, there¡¯s no specific reason,¡± Jiang Heng said nonchalantly, ¡°If I had to pick just one, it would be the time when I was working overtime and came home to find you waiting on the couch, with a meal prepared.¡±


    Ji Yao wasn¡¯t a very good partner in a relationship, and Jiang Heng had always known that.


    He was cowardly, uneasy, burdened by  family chains and commitment phobic. All these things indicated that he wasn¡¯t a suitable match, and anyone smart would have broken free early on.


    But for Jiang Heng, Ji Yao had a unique, irreplaceable place.


    The ¡°late-night incident¡± that Jiang Heng mentioned was something Ji Yao had forgotten long ago. He furrowed his brows, trying to recall the details in his memory, but he couldn¡¯t remember the specifics


    However, Jiang Heng remembered it very clearly.


    At that time, they had just moved in together for a few months. Winter was approaching in Beijing, and a strong cold snap had just hit the northern regions.


    Jiang Heng had just started taking on more significant cases, and the first case he received was from legal aid. It was a complicated case, involving complex relationships among the parties, making it quite a mess.


    He worked overtime until past ten at night before finally sorting out the case. On his way home, wrapped in a coat, he was nearly frozen into a living icicle by the cold wind.


    The night was terribly cold, taxis were hard to find on the road, and by the time Jiang Heng got home, it was close to midnight. Afraid of waking Ji Yao, he didn¡¯t even dare to use the keypad lock. He opened the door gently with a spare key.


    But as soon as he pushed the door open, a warm glow spilled out through the crack, falling on his feet.


    The warm light from the ceiling of the living room was on. Ji Yao was resting on the couch, lazily holding a tablet and reading materials. He was clearly tired with the tablet almost tilting into the gap between the couch cushions.


    The noise from opening the door startled Ji Yao, and he rolled over to sit up, rubbing his eyes. He asked, ¡°Why did you come back this late?¡±


    ¡°I was working Overtime,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡±


    ¡°Waiting for you,¡± Ji Yao said casually. He pulled the tablet out from between the couch cushions, ruffled his hair absentmindedly, and gestured to the nearby dining area. ¡°Have you eaten? The food is warming in the steamer. If you haven¡¯t eaten, grab yourself some chopsticks.¡±


    He was obviously quite tired, his eyes were fighting to stay open, and his voice was accompanied by a strong nasal sound.


    Ji Yao had turned on the air conditioning. The moist warmth in the room met Jiang Heng, enveloping him, drawing him from the icy winter into a warm nest.


    With his fingertips holding the key, Jiang Heng stood at the threshold of light and shadow, gazing at Ji Yao in his pajamas. In that instant, Jiang Heng suddenly realized that these were the things he wanted, that¡¯s all.


    Perhaps Ji Yao himself hadn¡¯t realized. Despite his fear of commitment, subconsciously, he was building a home for both of them.


    For Jiang Heng, that day was an important turning point for him to truly envision the future. But for Ji Yao, it was just an ordinary day. He didn¡¯t know what kind of changes he had brought to Jiang Heng, so his memory of that day was extremely faint.


    He had racked his brain, but he hadn¡¯t figured out the specifics of what, when, and how. Yet, Jiang Heng didn¡¯t seem inclined to explain any further.


    Jiang Heng looked at Ji Yao silently, not saying anything.


    After a moment, he gently pressed Ji Yao¡¯s lips with his thumb, then lowered his head slightly and placed a kiss on his own fingertip.


    He didn¡¯t give Ji Yao an answer, but he gave him a kiss separated by warmth.

 CH 46

    Jiang Heng and Ji Yao stayed on the small balcony for half an hour. When they came back down, Ge Xing had already left.


    The last two tables of customers in the bar had disappeared, leaving only a few overturned glasses on the tables. The bar¡¯s waitstaff were bent over, busily collecting empty beer bottles.


    Zhou Qingbo didn¡¯t know how he managed to get so drunk in the past half hour. At this moment, he was lying on the bar counter, clinging onto a young man and not letting go.


    The young man had a good appearance, very good looking. He was wearing a thick overcoat with a formal suit underneath. He looked a few years younger than Zhou Qingbo but was dressed even more formally than Jiang Heng. He had a medium-sized briefcase by his side, but because he was being tugged by Zhou Qingbo, he temporarily placed the bag on the chair beside his leg.


    ¡°You lied to me!¡± Zhou Qingbo tugged at the young man¡¯s hand across the bar counter, passionately accusing him, ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t be home until the day after tomorrow!¡±


    ¡°I was trying to give you a surprise.¡± The young man had a good personality, speaking softly to him, almost coaxing him ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t tell you.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s not okay! That¡¯s deceit! That¡¯s concealing the truth! It¡¯s a major taboo in a relationship!¡± Zhou Qingbo, clearly drunk, was being unreasonable and aggressive, pulling the young man¡¯s hand and suddenly standing up straight, almost yanking him onto the bar counter without even noticing.


    It was evident that reasoning with a drunk person was difficult, but the young man¡¯s temper was overly good. He frowned, thought about it seriously, and then admitted his mistake earnestly, ¡°I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have kept it from you¡ªso next time, no more surprise attacks like this?¡±


    Zhou Qingbo remained silent for a moment, using his alcohol-flooded brain to think hard. Reluctantly, he changed his tune, ¡°Well¡­ alright then.¡±


    Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, having already guessed the identity of this person.


    When he spoke up, both Zhou Qingbo and the young man turned their heads towards him. Jiang Heng walked up confidently, nodding slightly at the young man as a form of greeting.


    ¡°Jiang Heng, Lawyer Jiang, right?¡± The young man nodded politely, reached into his pocket, took out a business card holder, and handed a card to Jiang Heng, saying, ¡°I¡¯m Qingbo¡¯s boyfriend, Pei You.¡±


    ¡°Pleased to meet you.¡± Jiang Heng took the card, being courteous.


    When Zhou Qingbo was dating Pei You, Jiang Heng had already gone abroad. He hadn¡¯t been able to meet him face to face until now. Looking at Pei You, Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of amazement. Ge Xing, the matchmaker, had really done a great job.


    ¡°I heard that you have set up your own practice.¡± Pei You smiled, ¡°Qingbo¡¯s friends are my friends. If you need any help in the future, feel free to ask.¡±


    Jiang Heng glanced at the simple design on the light beige business card and felt like he was seeing a resume filled with dazzling accomplishments.


    Ge Xing was truly impressive. Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help but wonder where he found all these talented young gay men.


    Everyone had their own way of getting along. From what Jiang Heng could see, Pei You wasn¡¯t a crafty old fox. So, Jiang Heng smiled and said, ¡°I won¡¯t hesitate then.¡±


    As he was about to put the business card away, the card was unexpectedly snatched from his hand. Meanwhile, Ji Yao, who was a step behind, was sitting at the bar counter, supporting his head with one hand. He stared at the business card under the bar counter light, studying it intently, even more focused than when he studied medical materials.


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­ Ji Yao?¡±


    Ji Yao furrowed his brows, impatiently looked up at him, and then met his gaze.


    For some inexplicable reason, as soon as he returned indoors from the cold wind outside, the warmth of the air conditioning made Ji Yao¡¯s blood rush, causing him to feel light-headed and tipsy. His face turned red, not just at the corners of his eyes, but even his ears.


    ¡°How many drinks have you had?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    Ji Yao was clearly not sober right now. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have tried to snatch something from Jiang Heng¡¯s hand. This action was too intimate, far beyond the ¡°tacit distance¡± they usually maintained.


    After thinking for a moment, Ji Yao made a hand gesture indicating the number three.


    Jiang Heng fell silent for a moment, looked at him, then glanced at Zhou Qingbo. He clicked his tongue softly and said, ¡°both of your alcohol tolerance has really declined, huh? You¡¯ve only had a few drinks.¡±


    Pei You, having freed his hand from Zhou Qingbo¡¯s grasp, reached over Zhou Qingbo¡¯s shoulder, stretched his arm out, and fished out an empty bottle of alcohol.


    He examined the label on the bottle for a moment, then handed the bottle to Jiang Heng.


    ¡°Russian-made,¡± Pei You said. ¡°Aberlour Dulsao¡¯s 150th Anniversary Special Edition Brandy. This batch that Qingbo has is a special friendship internal version. He¡¯s been keeping it for a while, and he should have been happy if he brought it out today.¡±


    No wonder, Jiang Heng thought, a Russian-made special edition brandy, it¡¯s almost like adding alcohol to alcohol.


    With two people about to leave and one person gone, it was clear that this gathering was coming to an end.


    Pei You had come to pick Qingbo up, so Jiang Heng gave him an out and said his goodbyes in advance.


    ¡°Do you need me to give you a ride?¡± Pei You gestured towards Ji Yao.


    ¡°No need,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±


    Jiang Heng¡¯s car was parked in the employee parking area behind the bar, accessible through a small alley from the back door. It was only a three-minute walk on foot.


    Ji Yao was unusually quiet throughout the journey. He followed Jiang Heng like a shadow, stumbling along with him. Jiang Heng stole a couple of glances at him from the corner of his eye, noticing Ji Yao¡¯s deeply furrowed brows and intense seriousness. He couldn¡¯t understand what was going on in Ji Yao¡¯s mind.


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t offer him any support, merely observing him from the corner of his eye. However, Ji Yao probably wasn¡¯t that drunk yet; he could still walk relatively straight. He walked all the way to Jiang Heng¡¯s car, pulled open the passenger side door, and got in.


    Jiang Heng followed suit and got into the car. Before he could even settle in, Ji Yao suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°I think you should avoid getting too close to Pei You,¡± Ji Yao said.


    Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, intrigued as he asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°People like them who are involved in the economy, they¡¯re all shrewd,¡± Ji Yao said. ¡°They don¡¯t seem easy to deal with.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what I studied during those years I was abroad?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    Ji Yao turned his head slightly, looking at him blankly.


    ¡°Business administration,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°¡ªBuckle up.¡±


    Suddenly Ji Yao reached over to fasten the seatbelt on the driver¡¯s side. Jiang Heng lightly pushed away his wrist.


    ¡°Buckle your own seatbelt.¡±


    Ji Yao replied with an ¡°Oh,¡± and fastened his own seatbelt. Slowly, he continued the conversation from before, You¡¯re different now. You look easier to deceive. A simple dinner and you were deceived.¡±


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    At this moment, even Jiang Heng, who had sharp judgment, couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit confused.


    ¡°Ji Yao,¡± Jiang Heng tentatively said, ¡°You¡¯re not trying to trick me by pretending to be drunk, are you?¡±


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s unfair!¡± Ji Yao looked at him sympathetically and said, ¡°If I was pretending to be drunk , I would have kissed earlier. I just held myself back.¡±


    Jiang Heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Qingbo¡¯s drunkenness was so much like fake drunkenness while with Ji Yao he was fluctuating between ¡°sober¡± and ¡°not sober,¡± and Jiang Heng wouldn¡¯t know his current state unless he opened his mouth to speak.


    Unlike Pei You, Jiang Heng didn¡¯t enjoy reasoning with drunks, so he didn¡¯t say anything more. He confirmed Ji Yao¡¯s address and then started the car.


    But he wanted some peace and quiet. However, the drunk still had something to say. Ji Yao seemed dissatisfied with Jiang Heng¡¯s disregard for him and adjusted his posture to engage in a serious conversation with him about whether he was ¡°easy to deceive.¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± Jiang Heng said with a headache. ¡°Pei You is Qingbo¡¯s boyfriend. Stop acting jealous. Ge Xing said they have a good relationship.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Oh,¡± Ji Yao, as if he had just caught a keyword, In an instant, was disconnected, no longer bringing up the topic of ¡°shrewd financial professionals.¡± He leaned back in his seat, even returning Pei You¡¯s business card to Jiang Heng¡¯s pocket.


    From then on, he was fairly quiet for the rest of the journey. Jiang Heng found a moment of peace for his ears. The sound of their breathing blended with the piano music from the car¡¯s stereo, gradually merging into the same rhythm.


    After about twenty minutes, Ji Yao suddenly remembered something and asked, ¡°Why did you kiss me at the rooftop smoking zone?¡±


    Jiang Heng glanced at him from the corner of his eye, sure that he was completely intoxicated. So he reached into his pocket and took out a small voice recorder. He pressed the record button and placed it on the surface.


    ¡°Why do you carry a voice recorder with you?¡± Ji Yao looked at him warily.


    ¡°I¡¯m a lawyer,¡± Jiang Heng said seriously. ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for me to carry a voice recorder?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Ji Yao said.


    He was easily convinced by this reason, not questioning why Jiang Heng suddenly started recording.


    ¡°So you still haven¡¯t answered my question,¡± Ji Yao said.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Jiang Heng teased, his tone casual.


    ¡°I think you intend to start over with me,¡± Ji Yao said firmly. ¡°Otherwise, why would you kiss me?¡±


    Jiang Heng glanced at the voice recorder with a playful smile, ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t really kiss me,¡± Ji Yao said frustratedly, sighing, ¡°What does that mean? It means if I told you now that I want to get back together, you definitely wouldn¡¯t agree.¡±


    Jiang Heng turned the steering wheel as the car exited the side road and turned into the apartment complex where Ji Yao lived.


    He pressed his lips together, struggling not to laugh, and took a quick glance at the dashcam, but unfortunately, there was no camera in the car.


    ¡°You can¡¯t get back together with me now,¡± Jiang Heng kindly spoke his thoughts to the drunk, ¡°Ji Yao, you have to show some sincerity.¡±


    ¡°well¡­¡± Ji Yao furrowed his brows, muttering softly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll pursue you sincerely, is that okay?¡±


    Jiang Heng couldn¡¯t resist teasing him, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say that at the bar?¡±


    ¡°Am saying it now¡± Ji Yao said righteously, ¡°I wasn¡¯t that drunk before. Why are you changing the subject? Are you willing to let me pursue you or not?¡±


    Jiang Heng had a mischievous thought and took advantage of the situation: ¡°That¡¯s your business. Why are you asking me? I can¡¯t decide what¡¯s in your heart.¡±


    ¡°Right, you¡¯re right,¡± Ji Yao nodded firmly, fully affirming Jiang Heng¡¯s opinion. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided.¡±


    In the midst of the conversation, Jiang Heng¡¯s car had already stopped in front of Ji Yao¡¯s building. Jiang Heng reached over to undo his seatbelt and asked, ¡°Can you make it upstairs on your own?¡±


    ¡°I can,¡± Ji Yao said resolutely. ¡°I haven¡¯t drunk that much. I still have to work tomorrow morning.¡±


    Jiang Heng didn¡¯t believe him, he thought for a moment, and said, ¡°Then go ahead. I¡¯ll wait for you downstairs. Send me a message when you get home.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Ji Yao impatiently waved his hand, opened the car door, and was about to get out. But he suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Jiang Heng warily. He said, ¡°We agreed, don¡¯t go back on your word.¡±


    ¡°I got it,¡± Jiang Heng resisted a smile and nodded, saying, ¡°However, there are quite a few people who have taken a liking to me, Dr. Ji. So, you¡¯ll have to work hard to chase after me.¡±

 CH 47

    If Ji Yao had known in advance that Zhou Qingbo was going to buy alcohol from Russia, he would have rather followed Jiang Heng¡¯s lead and ordered a glass of mint water at the beginning.


    At 8:30 in the morning, while still asleep, Ji Yao suddenly turned over and, for some reason, woke up with his body before his mind. He shot up from the bed, eyes closed, and reached under the pillow to retrieve his phone.


    Ji Yao,, still in a deep sleep, had forgotten to close the curtains last night. Now, with the bright daylight outside, it was already past the usual working hours. Feeling startled, he unlocked his phone to check why his alarm hadn¡¯t gone off, only to realize it was Saturday and his day off, so he didn¡¯t have to be on duty.


    With that, the tension that had built up within him dissipated in an instant. He relaxed completely, leaning back onto the bed.


    His consciousness slowly emerged from deep slumber. At the same time, the physiological effects of a hangover started to creep in slowly, catching up half a beat behind. Ji Yao raised his forearm to shield his eyes, as if his body had woken up before his soul, and he belatedly recalled the scene of his acting ¡°crazy under the influence¡± from the night before.


    Thanks to his high alcohol tolerance, Ji Yao wasn¡¯t accustomed to blacking out. Now, with his eyes closed, the events of last night flooded into his mind like a tidal wave, playing out like a movie reel, with each frame becoming clearer than the last.


    Ji Yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Alright, Ji Yao thought, maybe he should just pack up and leave the city.


    For a brief moment, Ji Yao even harbored a suspicion deep down¡ªcould it be that Ge Xing had gone to extreme lengths to set him up, and together with Zhou Qingbo, they had drugged him?


    But he quickly dismissed this thought himself, as he believed Ge Xing¡¯s style of operation as the ¡°king of matchmakers¡± would definitely not involve drugging only him. If anything were to happen, Jiang Heng would likely be involved too.


    Thinking about Jiang Heng, Ji Yao¡¯s thoughts momentarily stalled. He fell silent for a couple of seconds, then subconsciously turned over and pulled the covers over himself, as if he could bury himself in the bedding.


    Clearly, when he was sober, he had the capacity to contemplate whether he and Jiang Heng were adequately prepared to be together again, yet once the air conditioning hit him, his thoughts went haywire, and he brazenly declared that he would ¡°pursue¡± Jiang Heng. It was as if he had discarded all notions of ¡°concern¡± and ¡°caution.¡±


    ¡ªAlcohol really was harmful, Ji Yao thought.


    Ji Yao sighed deeply, half-squinting as he unlocked his phone¡¯s screen. After hesitating for a couple of seconds, he decided to call Jiang Heng.


    Whether it was a workday or a day off, Jiang Heng didn¡¯t have a habit of sleeping in. The call was answered quickly, and Jiang Heng¡¯s voice came through with a hint of amusement, as if he wasn¡¯t surprised by Ji Yao¡¯s call at all.


    ¡°Awake?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    Ji Yao was still groggy. Half-closing his eyes, he covered half of his face with the blanket and muttered in a muffled voice, ¡°You name the price. How much money would it take to redeem that recording?¡±


    Jiang Heng suppressed a laugh, coughing to compose himself twice.


    ¡°You want me to come up with a number off the top of my head?¡± Jiang Heng replied in a serious tone, ¡°You might not be able to afford it.¡±


    ¡°Just give me a figure, and I¡¯ll negotiate with you,¡± Ji Yao¡¯s voice, still slightly hoarse from his hangover, sounded sticky and muffled, ¡°If that doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯m willing to empty my pockets, sell everything I have, and even smash pots and sell iron. Will that be enough?¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t do. That would be extortion,¡± Jiang Heng relaxed his body, leaning back in his spacious armchair, and his pen, unconsciously, began to twirl between his fingers: ¡°If you hang up now and transfer money to me, you might be looking at over three years in prison.¡±


    Ji Yao gritted his teeth and used the blanket to cover his entire face, continuing in a muffled voice, ¡°Then what about selling myself?¡±


    Jiang Heng pretended not to hear, and repeated with a feigned innocence, ¡°What? I didn¡¯t catch that.¡±


    ¡°Selling myself! Is that an option?¡± Ji Yao exclaimed with a mix of frustration and embarrassment.


    Jiang Heng finally burst into laughter, finding it hard to stop.


    Then, Ji Yao turned over again, and with the slightly warm phone screen pressed against his face, he heard Jiang Heng¡¯s laughter coming through the speaker, as if it was right next to him.


    Ji Yao took a soft breath, suddenly feeling that fate was like this sometimes. He had thought he could move on, like any adult who carried regrets, but as soon as Jiang Heng appeared, he was completely defenseless.


    After the laughter subsided, Jiang Heng¡¯s voice returned to calm. After a brief pause of about two seconds, he spoke again, his tone somewhat casual, ¡°But are you really sure?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t lie when I said that last night,¡± Jiang Heng said. ¡°I still do like you, but my feelings also come with reservations.¡±


    Jiang Heng¡¯s tone was calm and composed, similar to when he was presenting his case in court. It sounded both serene and gentle, yet had an air of authority that made it hard for anyone to interrupt him.


    ¡°You and I aren¡¯t kids anymore,¡± Jiang Heng continued. ¡°Think carefully before you proceed again.¡±


    Ji Yao sat up, propping up his head with an elbow and a bent knee.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re worried about.¡± Ji Yao¡¯s next words made him a little nervous. He pursed his lips, feeling his heartbeats suddenly quickening, and then continued, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve come out to my parents.¡±


    There was a momentary pause from the other end of the line, and Ji Yao¡¯s words seemed to have caught Jiang Heng off guard.


    ¡°When did you tell them?¡± Jiang Heng asked.


    ¡°The day after you left,¡± Ji Yao lowered his gaze, looking at his hand and pinching his fingertips until a white mark appeared, ¡°I told them that I like men.¡±


    After finishing his sentence, a long silence followed, both on the phone and in the room. Amidst the quiet receiver, only the faint hum of electricity could be heard, confirming that the call was still connected.


    After a moment, Jiang Heng finally spoke, his voice calm, ¡°What prompted you to do that?¡±


    ¡°I just had enough,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°I told them I was gay.¡±


    With those words said, the room fell silent again, and it seemed like ages before either of them spoke.


    ¡°Why bother,¡± Jiang Heng sighed softly, ¡°We were already broken up by that time anyway.¡±


    Actually, Ji Yao knew that this wasn¡¯t very meaningful. After all, considering the circumstances back then, the probability of them reconciling was quite low. If Ji Yao came out using Jiang Heng¡¯s name, and then later brought home a boyfriend, his parents could easily rebuke him with ¡°homosexual relationships never last.¡±


    But at that time, he probably wasn¡¯t thinking that far ahead.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°But I said it at the time. Maybe it was because I was young and not thinking about the consequences. It felt wrong not to say it.¡±


    ¡°¡­I see,¡± Jiang Heng replied.


    The sound of breathing on the other end grew slightly heavier, and Ji Yao faintly heard the rustling of fabric and the soft rolling sound of a wheel. He guessed that Jiang Heng had stood up from his chair and, true to form, might have gone to light a cigarette.


    Sure enough, in just about ten seconds, Ji Yao heard a quiet sound of a lighter being ignited.


    ¡°I won¡¯t get married anymore,¡± Ji Yao said, ¡°I won¡¯t ever get married again¡ªbecause my parents already know that their son is gay.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m staying in today, I have work,¡± perhaps not expecting Ji Yao¡¯s sudden response, Jiang Heng didn¡¯t acknowledge the statement but simply said, ¡°I¡¯m home. If you want to come over, feel free.¡±

 CH 48

    the slightly warm phone landed on the edge of the pillow, and ji yao covered his eyes with his arm. unable to resist, he lay on the bed for a while.


    when he was on the phone, his anger and strength were not straightforward, but now that he had calmed down, his face was still flushed, and he felt extremely embarrassed.


    indeed, he needed to quit drinking, he thought firmly.


    he tossed and turned in bed, as if there were nails stabbing him underneath. jiang heng had hung up on him without a care, leaving only a few words, causing ji yao to be entangled not knowing which step to take.


    he had just been humiliated last night, and he didn¡¯t want to go directly to the person responsible for it. but now that jiang heng had finally opened up to him a bit, ji yao didn¡¯t want to let go of this opportunity.


    the bright sunlight outside was refreshing, and ji yao lay on the bed for more than ten minutes, eventually unable to resist the temptation. he got up from the bed and put on his slippers, heading into the bathroom.


    an hour later, he sat in a car that arrived at jiang heng¡¯s residence.


    coincidentally, the security guard on duty that day was the same one he had encountered last time. the security guard, an older gentleman, apparently had a photographic memory. he remembered ji yao even after such a long time had passed. with a cheerful smile, he greeted ji yao and helped him open the visitor gate.


    ¡°are you here to see lawyer jiang?¡± the security guard asked with a smile. ¡°please fill out the visitor form.¡±


    ji yao cleared his throat awkwardly, nodded randomly, and then filled in his name and phone number in the visitor column.


    it seemed that jiang heng had been waiting for him in advance. ji yao went upstairs, rang the doorbell, and within a few seconds, the door opened from the inside.


    jiang heng was wearing glasses on his nose, dressed in a soft plain home outfit, wearing slightly thick slippers, his eyes slightly curved as he smiled, examining ji yao from head to toe.


    ¡°so impatient?¡± jiang heng teased.


    ¡°i actually came to assassinate you,¡± ji yao retorted without wanting to back down. ¡°and then take my recording.¡±


    jiang heng chuckled softly and stepped aside to let him in, taking out a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet and handing them to ji yao.


    ¡°committing a crime on top of another crime,¡± jiang heng said with a smile. ¡°the security downstairs knows me. if you were to stuff me into a fridge, he would notice within half a month. so, i advise you to think twice.¡±


    ji yao entered the apartment, casually hanging his coat on the coat rack near the entrance. he didn¡¯t intend to continue the banter with jiang heng that way.


    ¡°you¡¯re right,¡± ji yao asked. ¡°so, have you eaten?¡±


    ¡°just ordered takeout,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°my study is upstairs. when the takeout arrives, just let me know.¡±


    ¡°you are actually working?¡± ji yao originally thought that jiang would be reserved, so he made up a reason to brush him off. he didn¡¯t expect him to be serious. ¡°it¡¯s saturday today.¡±


    ¡°when lawyers get busy, there¡¯s no concept of weekends,¡± jiang heng explained. ¡°liu qiang¡¯s case is about to go to trial.¡±


    ¡°so soon?¡± ji yao was surprised. ¡°isn¡¯t it usually more than a month before a criminal case goes to trial?¡±


    ¡°the impact of this case isn¡¯t good,¡± jiang heng leaned against his shoulder, tilted his head, and let out a soft sigh. ¡°li linghua had already brought this case to the news¡ªhusband in a parasitic relationship conspired with a third party to murder the son, such a big matter. imagine the public opinion it generated.¡±


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but wince, he could probably imagine.


    ¡°are you handling this case now?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°there¡¯s a compensation aspect attached to the prosecution,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°li linghua has already forced liu qiang to divorce her. now, she¡¯s planning to make him pay dearly.¡±


    ji yao walked in slippers, following jiang heng into the room, and asked further, ¡°at this point, can liu qiang agree to the divorce?¡±


    ¡°zhou fang accused him during her detention period, saying he was an accomplice to the murder,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°liu qiang was terrified, and then li linghua told him that if he divorces her immediately, not only can she help him get bail, but if they go to court later, she can also provide him with a letter of forgiveness, which could lead to a lighter punishment.¡±


    ¡°didn¡¯t li linghua want to send everyone involved in this incident to prison? how could she suggest that?¡± ji yao said. ¡°and liu qiang, how can he believe those words?¡±


    jiang heng knew that ji yao still held some resentment towards li linghua for wrongly accusing him, but he just smiled faintly and didn¡¯t argue. he went on to explain, ¡°once it¡¯s established that liu qiang didn¡¯t participate in the crime, at most, he might have known about it but failed to report it. with zhou fang taking the heat for it, the main culprit won¡¯t fall on him. li linghua¡¯s words are vague and won¡¯t have much impact on the sentencing.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s true,¡± ji yao took a sip of water, then remembered something, ¡°isn¡¯t this considered confidential information? you¡¯re telling me just like that?¡±


    ¡°not really,¡± jiang heng said: ¡°because of the negative public opinion, this case will be tried openly, and there might even be journalists live streaming¡ªhm, if you want to see how the mastermind who falsely accused you is tried, i can reserve a seat for you in the public gallery.¡±


    to be honest, jiang heng¡¯s suggestion did make ji yao somewhat tempted. he didn¡¯t really hold much resentment against li linghua because she had indeed lost her son and was misled by someone else. however, it was clear that liu qiang was intentionally making false accusations, and ji yao, as the ¡°victim,¡± couldn¡¯t help but want to see him pay.


    ¡°it would be great if i could be the one to pronounce the verdict and then place a bunch of firecrackers at the courthouse entrance,¡± ji yao said jokingly.


    jiang heng seemed to sense something from his expression and said with a subtle smile, ¡°setting off fireworks within the city limits violates public order.¡±


    ¡°¡­ how could that be?¡± ji yao cleared his throat subconsciously and said, ¡°i won¡¯t go then, the trial could last several hours and make my back will ache from sitting for too long. also, it¡¯s a workday, i need to go to work.¡±


    however, even though ji yao was saying he wouldn¡¯t go, he had already pulled out his phone and reserved an official livestream channel for the trial.


    jiang heng nodded as if he weren¡¯t surprised by this answer.


    ¡°i need to prepare some documents,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°feel free to make yourself at home. if you get tired, you can rest in the guest room, and help yourself to anything you need.¡±


    with that, jiang heng pointed in the direction of the guest room, and ji yao nodded, indicating that he understood.


    next, jiang heng went upstairs to continue the work he hadn¡¯t finished, while ji yao stayed downstairs to wait for the delivery.


    he sat on the couch, couldn¡¯t help but look around the living room. the last time he had been here, it was nighttime, and ji yao¡¯s mind had been elsewhere. he had been provoked by jiang heng and had a jumble of emotions in his mind, so he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the place where he was now settling.


    the house was quite spacious, with the downstairs area likely being the living space, including the living room, kitchen, and a small dining area. ji yao hadn¡¯t been upstairs yet, but knowing jiang heng, it was probably a purely work-oriented area.


    the decoration of the entire house was rather simple, and the style was clearly from several years ago. ji yao looked around but didn¡¯t see any elements that particularly matched jiang heng¡¯s preferences.


    ji yao and jiang heng¡¯s relationship was currently in a state of uncertainty. while jiang heng had reluctantly allowed him to ¡°pursue,¡± it still seemed like there was a long way to go before they could truly reconcile. ji yao had come to visit, and at first, he didn¡¯t want to wander around. however, he couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and, using the excuse of getting water, made a trip to the kitchen and the small dining bar.


    after circling around and returning, ji yao was convinced that jiang heng hadn¡¯t put too much effort into decorating the place.


    apart from the kitchen having some modern kitchenware, the overall condition of the house was similar to the style seen in real estate listings for second-hand homes.


    it was spotlessly clean, but there were no very obvious signs of daily life. some rooms had traces of recent renovation work, suggesting that jiang heng had probably done some simple area planning to separate the living and working areas.


    this surprised ji yao. he remembered that when he lived with jiang heng before, jiang heng had been enthusiastic about maintaining the living environment. although it wasn¡¯t extravagant, he always made gradual adjustments according to his preferences and likes.


    so, even without the complicated ¡°household rules,¡± when ji yao lived with him back then, he felt much more comfortable than he did at home.


    had jiang heng matured over the years and stopped focusing on enjoying life? ji yao wondered.


    without figuring out the reasons, ji yao returned to the living room with a water glass in hand and took out his phone.


    since the end of the trial, ji yao hadn¡¯t paid any attention to li linghua¡¯s case. his job at the hospital kept him busy, so he rarely had time to browse social media for gossip. now, he opened the weibo app, and the trending topics were dominated by celebrity headlines.


    so he thought for a moment and typed in a few keywords in the search bar.


    the screen loaded briefly for half a second and then displayed a hot weibo post about the li linghua case, with personal information hidden.


    the post had been made several days ago, but there were still recent comments pouring in, indicating that it had caused a stir on the internet at some point, which was why it continued to attract attention.


    ji yao clicked on the profile picture of the weibo user and searched for the case under the trending topics. that¡¯s when he realized that this local influencer had been following the case closely from the beginning.


    the first voices of public opinion appeared around the time of the trial, but for some reason, neither he nor the hospital¡¯s name had been prominently mentioned. it was all summed up with the result of ¡°failed resuscitation.¡±


    ji yao wasn¡¯t na?ve. he still vividly remembered li linghua¡¯s attitude toward him before the trial and she was clearly out to get him. he knew that this was likely jiang heng¡¯s influence.


    he pursed his lips and clicked to save the weibo post, putting away his phone.


    the ice-cold lemon water refreshed his mind. ji yao drank about half a glass, couldn¡¯t help but look upstairs three times, but still didn¡¯t go up.


    half an hour later, the doorbell rang, and a delivery person in a blue uniform holding a receipt knocked on the door. ji yao verified the recipient¡¯s information with him.


    ¡°mr. jiang, right?¡± the delivery person asked.


    ji yao nodded and took the large box from the delivery person.


    the food that jiang heng had ordered didn¡¯t seem like something an ordinary person would buy. the one-meter-square box featured a logo from a certain restaurant. ji yao opened the box and found a variety of mild and soft breakfast items, still steaming hot. there was everything from congee to dumplings, each neatly separated in individual takeaway bags.


    ji yao quickly checked, realizing that the contents of the box were meant for two people, and one of them was clearly tailored to his taste.


    so, he thought for a moment, selected a few items, and carried them in his fingers, confidently walking upstairs.


    the second floor was even simpler in terms of decoration, with most of the area opened up, leaving only three rooms.


    ji yao¡¯s gaze swept around, and he noticed that one of the room¡¯s doors was slightly open, leaving a narrow gap.


    he knew this was a hint from jiang heng, so he approached the door, tapped it lightly with his fingers, and without waiting for jiang heng to respond, he pushed the door open himself.


    jiang heng seemed to be engrossed in his work, still focused on what was in front of him, a beautiful pen held between his fingertips, and he couldn¡¯t help but turn it half a circle.


    so ji yao didn¡¯t enter the room to disturb him. instead, he leaned against the door, using the opportunity to unabashedly observe jiang heng.


    the hot air softened the plastic, causing it to emit a faint aroma. ji yao¡¯s fingers, which held the bag handles, were stained with a light red mark where the heat had touched them. he watched jiang heng and felt his heart softening.


    it was as if he had once again found that feeling of relaxation from years ago when he was with jiang heng. so his thoughts became somewhat sluggish.


    for a moment, ji yao even felt like the past few years had been nothing more than a fleeting dream, and this moment was the only real thing.


    after about three or four minutes, jiang heng seemed to sense the gaze on him, and he couldn¡¯t help but raise his head to look at ji yao.


    ¡°how long have you been standing there?¡± jiang heng asked in surprise.


    ¡°not too long,¡± ji yao said. ¡°i knocked on the door, but you didn¡¯t hear.¡±


    jiang heng nodded, relaxing back into his chair. his computer screen was still on, and there were several printed documents on his desk.


    jiang heng¡¯s office was quite tidy, with a bookshelf against the wall. the top shelf was filled with various legal reference books, while the bottom one had novels and such that he often read. ji yao noticed that there were a few untranslated books that looked like they were newly purchased, still unopened.


    the office was spacious, with a sofa against the wall near the door. ji yao placed the breakfast on the small coffee table in front of the sofa and couldn¡¯t help but walk a few steps closer to jiang heng.


    ¡°still busy?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°it¡¯s almost done,¡± jiang heng replied.


    as they talked, jiang heng couldn¡¯t help but use his fingertips to rub his nose, causing ji yao to notice that jiang heng¡¯s home outfit draped nicely and seemed loose yet fitting. when he raised his hand, the right side of the collar curved down slightly, revealing a small but beautifully shaped collarbone.


    ji yao licked his lips, feeling like he hadn¡¯t fully awakened from the sense of overlapping time and space just now. he couldn¡¯t help but walk closer to jiang heng, placing a hand on the back of his chair, and then his other hand on the desk, slightly bending forward.


    it was quite an assertive posture, as if with a little more courage, he could easily trap jiang heng in his embrace.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t evade or avoid, and his entire demeanor remained calm. there was no hint of surprise in his eyes behind his glasses. he seemed to be wearing a faint smile, but at the same time, not quite.


    ¡°i want to hug you,¡± ji yao said.


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°you haven¡¯t won me over yet.¡±


    ji yao made a faint clicking noise and, in a somewhat tentative manner, asked, ¡°can¡¯t you let me off just this once? i don¡¯t have much experience.¡±


    in their circle, jiang heng wasn¡¯t the first person ji yao had tried to pursue, but he had little experience in chasing someone. jiang heng and ji yao were both approaching their thirties, and while romantic dinners with flowers, roses, and candlelight might serve as a nice gesture, truly captivating someone¡¯s heart was a more challenging task.


    jiang heng looked at ji yao with interest, as if seeing a younger version of him.


    ji yao was like a young cat, easily startled, and he would flee when faced with anything unfamiliar or frightening. but once he felt safe, he would gradually extend his claws, test the boundaries, and then push further.


    however, it seemed that jiang heng had some principles.


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng said with a hint of amusement. ¡°i¡¯m not easy to pursue.¡±


    ji yao looked frustrated, his eyebrows furrowing as he tried to figure out a way to approach this.


    ¡°can i get an advance?¡± he asked.

 CH 49

    ji yao tried both soft and hard approaches, attempting to get some benefits before winning jiang heng over.


    unfortunately, jiang heng was clear about his principles and had a bottom line, so he held onto his last bit of territory and didn¡¯t give in.


    ji yao dared to test the boundaries within jiang heng¡¯s tacit approval but didn¡¯t dare to push too hard, so he had no choice but to stop. he spent some pure and friendly time with jiang heng instead.


    specifically, after jiang heng finished his work, ji yao used jiang heng¡¯s laptop on the couch to complete the quarterly medical report.


    surprisingly, ji yao thought that jiang heng might have some productivity-boosting buff because he wrote his report faster when he was with him.


    but ji yao didn¡¯t leave empty-handed. he rarely found a sense of belonging with jiang heng, making for a pleasant and peaceful weekend.


    it seemed like jiang heng effortlessly filled the void in his heart, so ji yao didn¡¯t need to go out looking for inferior substitutes to fill his life.


    perhaps he had rested well over the weekend because he appeared radiant and cheerful when he went to work on monday, making the nurses in the department unable to resist asking what good things he had encountered over the weekend.


    of course, ji yao couldn¡¯t say it was a reunion with his ex-boyfriend. he glanced at the nurse and then reached out to pat her shoulder.


    ¡°that talisman you gave me is quite effective,¡± ji yao said earnestly. ¡°if there are any complementary products next time, please send them to me as well.¡±


    the nurse¡¯s eyes lit up at his words. she stood up straight and said, ¡°dr. ji! you have great taste! that blogger just released a limited edition peach blossom talisman! i¡¯ll send it to you later!¡±


    ¡°oops¡ªcough, cough, cough!¡±


    ji yao choked on his coffee, almost choking himself to death. his face turned red, and his eyes shifted guiltily for a moment.


    he had intended to decline the peach blossom charm, but before the words could come out of his mouth, he suddenly remembered jiang heng¡¯s current attitude of being resistant and unyielding to his advances. so, after hesitating for a moment, he decided to accept it.


    regarding the ¡°pursuit of jiang heng,¡± ji yao had no clear plan.


    six years ago, when he and jiang heng got together, it was an unspoken understanding, a natural and effortless coming together. they didn¡¯t have to make much effort to get together.


    but six years had passed, and jiang heng was obviously not as easygoing as before.


    due to their personalities, ji yao¡¯s stubbornness and boldness were limited to the boundaries already set. if jiang heng didn¡¯t actively expand those boundaries, ji yao wouldn¡¯t dare to venture beyond them.


    so, ji yao could only drop hints in a roundabout way. unfortunately, jiang heng was still unyielding, not giving an inch, which made ji yao resort to subtle attempts to discover jiang heng¡¯s current preferences.


    for ji yao, it was a complicated matter. he rarely had to chase anyone, especially not someone as reserved as jiang heng.


    he did send flowers to jiang heng twice through same-city delivery, fearing that such a tactic might be considered immature. to his surprise, jiang heng accepted them readily and even took some photos to post on his social media.


    pale champagne roses glistened in the light, set against a blurred room background, leaving room for endless imagination.


    within five minutes of posting the photos, ge xing and zhou qingbo replied with rows of question marks in neat rows.


    his phone suddenly vibrated, and ge xing¡¯s name lit up the screen. ji yao hesitated for a moment before answering the call.


    ¡°power move, this is definitely a power move,¡± ge xing didn¡¯t wait for ji yao to speak and fired off a series of words rapidly, ¡°he¡¯s teasing you, and you¡¯re just letting it happen? i suggest you reel him in directly, bring him into the water with you, and i can provide friendly assistance.¡±


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°i know, but there¡¯s no other way,¡± ji yao leaned back in his chair, mumbled, ¡°isn¡¯t this pursuing him?¡±


    ge xing: ¡°¡­¡±


    ge xing sighed dejectedly and then drew out the word ¡°you guys are like elementary school students.¡±


    ¡°i was thinking the same thing,¡± ji yao said shamelessly, ¡°can you help me figure out what he¡¯s being reserved about?¡±


    ¡°if you don¡¯t know, how could i possibly know?¡± ge xing retorted, annoyed. ¡°i¡¯m not his ex-boyfriend.¡±


    as it turned out, jiang heng¡¯s heart was not as transparent as a glass bead.


    although he didn¡¯t resist ji yao¡¯s approach and even tacitly allowed ji yao to get closer, he still held onto that last line and didn¡¯t express his intentions clearly.


    ji yao speculated that jiang heng probably had some lingering doubts in his mind.


    but that was normal, ji yao thought. people weren¡¯t machines, and even if they could express their feelings openly, they still needed time to digest things.


    their relationship had regressed to six years ago, as if they had returned to that ambiguous and hazy time¡ªreserving themselves, getting closer, and waiting for an opportunity to decide whether they would continue together or part ways entirely.


    however, in the next few days, jiang heng became completely engrossed in his work. liu qiang¡¯s case was on the horizon, and he spent each day meeting with the representatives, sorting out the final details of compensation, and making time to oversee the ongoing zhou fang case on the side.


    the trial was scheduled for thursday morning, and although ji yao had pre-booked a live broadcast channel, he didn¡¯t cancel his clinic duties. he performed three surgeries in the morning, keeping him so busy that he completely forgot about the trial.


    however, during his lunch break, ji yao realized the situation when he stepped out of the operating room. he saw a table at the surgical nurses¡¯ station filled with bubble tea deliveries and small pastries.


    ji yao walked over to check the receipts and winced.


    ¡°who ordered this?¡± ji yao asked, ¡°did someone win the lottery?¡±


    ¡°i don¡¯t know.¡± the nurse also looked troubled and said, ¡°the delivery just arrived. we thought it was a patient who ordered it, but after asking around, we couldn¡¯t find anyone. so, we didn¡¯t dare to touch it.¡±


    their caution was understandable, as incidents of violence against medical staff were on the rise. so, they were naturally wary when anonymous deliveries suddenly appeared.


    but ji yao glanced at the logo on the food packaging and felt that poisoning seemed unlikely.


    he stood still for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and took out his phone to call jiang heng.


    the call rang for a while before jiang heng¡¯s voice came from the other end. ¡°hello?¡±


    ¡°did you order food delivery to our hospital?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°oh, no, it wasn¡¯t me. it was li linghua,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°since liu qiang¡¯s case is going to trial today, and the medical part has been clarified and has nothing to do with you, she felt a bit guilty. so, she wanted to apologize.¡±


    ¡°today?¡± ji yao was momentarily stunned. he moved his phone away from his face to check the screen, and then belatedly realized what was happening. he slapped his forehead. ¡°oh, i forgot¡ªdid i disturb you? is the trial over?¡±


    ¡°not yet,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°but there¡¯s a dispute over whether liu qiang deliberately delayed his son¡¯s treatment, so the court has adjourned for a mid-session break.¡±


    ¡°in that case, i won¡¯t disturb you,¡± ji yao said quickly. ¡°you go on with your work.¡±


    jiang heng did have important matters to attend to, so he didn¡¯t insist on talking further. he simply responded with an ¡°okay¡± before hanging up.


    but just before he ended the call, he suddenly remembered something and stopped ji yao. ¡°oh, by the way¡­¡±


    ¡°yes?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°do you have any plans for tonight?¡± jiang heng inquired.


    ¡°no, not really,¡± ji yao replied with a smile. ¡°are you celebrating something?¡±


    ¡°not exactly,¡± jiang heng chuckled. ¡°come with me to the mall tonight.¡±


    ¡°alright, are you treating me?¡± ji yao joked.


    ¡°not really,¡± jiang heng laughed again. ¡°it¡¯s part of your duties¡ªacting as my ¡®proxy boyfriend.''¡±


    jiang heng paused for a moment, then added with a smile, ¡°my mother is arriving.¡±

 CH 50

    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    lately, there had been too much going on. ever since he reunited with jiang heng, everything had been moving forward at a breakneck pace. ji yao hadn¡¯t quite adapted to this chaotic, fast-paced life. at times, he would remember one thing and forget another, but he always remembered that he needed to pursue jiang heng. he almost forgot about this particular matter.


    but he couldn¡¯t entirely blame jiang heng for it. jiang heng had only mentioned that ji yao should pretend to be his boyfriend without specifying a time frame. ji yao had waited, but there was no follow-up, so he naturally put it to the back of his mind.


    due to family reasons, ji yao was extremely anxious about interacting with elders. if jiang heng hadn¡¯t hung up the phone so quickly, he might have given in to the impulse to escape.


    he vividly remembered the scene when his own sexual orientation was exposed. although his own parents were conservative and strict, most chinese parents couldn¡¯t calmly accept the fact that their son was gay. so even though jiang heng had mentioned it casually and naturally, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but think of the worst.


    could it be that auntie was trying to draw a snake out of its hole and catch them all at once? ji yao couldn¡¯t help but wonder.


    the more he thought about it, the more he felt it was a trap. he paced around the staircase like a caged animal, growing increasingly nervous. subconsciously, he thought about pulling out his phone to call jiang heng and ask him to ¡°reconsider.¡±


    his phone was clenched in his hand, already warmed by his body temperature. he absentmindedly unlocked the screen, and the call log page appeared, still open and waiting.


    ji yao¡¯s fingers had already moved to jiang heng¡¯s contact list, but before he could dial, something suddenly clicked in his mind.


    at that moment, ji yao seemed to faintly grasp jiang heng¡¯s thoughts.


    there was no doubt that they liked each other, but they were both past the age where they could afford endless trials and errors. being together now meant facing many more challenges than before.


    ji yao had left home, severed ties with his parents, and lived as a lone wolf, not caring about anything. he naturally thought he wouldn¡¯t repeat the same mistakes as before and didn¡¯t take jiang heng¡¯s concerns seriously.


    but now, it seemed he wasn¡¯t any better than before. he was still sensitive to anything related to ¡°family,¡± and he was even a little afraid of facing jiang heng¡¯s mother as a ¡°pretend¡± boyfriend. his subconscious mind made him want to run away.


    but that wouldn¡¯t do, ji yao thought. i¡¯ve already promised jiang heng.


    he had already disappointed jiang heng once, and he couldn¡¯t afford to disappoint him a second time.


    ji yao forced himself to turn off the screen, using the thought that he had already agreed as a way to convince himself. finally, he reluctantly reached a truce with his instincts and decided to temporarily ignore this matter.


    he pocketed his phone, returned to the office from the staircase, and then grabbed a cup of milk tea from the ¡°dessert corner.¡±


    ¡°i found the one who bought the snacks,¡± ji yao said with the milk tea straw in his mouth, vaguely saying, ¡°don¡¯t worry, tell everyone to eat in peace.¡±


    the young nurse replied with an ¡°okay.¡± she had wanted to ask him who it was, but ji yao had already entered the office and closed the door behind him.


    ji yao¡¯s mind was in turmoil, but with no one to talk to, he spent the whole afternoon restlessly, as if there were needles pricking him in the office.


    this state of mind continued until 4:30 in the afternoon when his phone suddenly vibrated, and a local news notification appeared.


    ji yao¡¯s gaze shifted from his computer screen as he scrolled down a bit. he then realized that the topic that had popped up was about the outcome of the liu qiang case.


    ji yao was momentarily stunned. he wiped his hands and glanced at the topic.


    that weibo post had just been posted a few minutes ago, and there weren¡¯t too many comments yet. ji yao clicked on the video embedded in the post and found that the case had already been decided about ten minutes ago.


    liu qiang had been prosecuted for perjury, and he was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to two years and ten months in prison. liu qiang, however, expressed his intention to appeal the verdict in court.


    in the video, li linghua and the others exited the courthouse first, and reporters gathered at the door, eager to interview her. however, jiang heng stepped forward and stopped them.


    ¡°my client is not currently accepting interviews,¡± jiang heng said, with a somewhat distant smile. ¡°whether the suspect is guilty or not, the sentencing is determined by the law. personal opinions cannot influence anything, so there is no need to investigate further.¡±


    the reporter in the front, from a relatively well-known online news channel, asked with a somewhat malicious tone, ¡°this case has had a significant social impact. before the trial, many netizens expressed their desire for a severe punishment for liu qiang. so, in this context, was the sentencing influenced by public opinion, even though the liu qiang case did not result in serious consequences?¡±


    ¡°public opinion will not sway the judiciary, and the judiciary will not be biased,¡± jiang heng replied, his tone carrying a hint of coldness. ¡°the fact that liu qiang did not cause serious consequences is due to the fairness and justice of the judiciary. the judge is meticulous, which is why he wouldn¡¯t falsely accuse innocent people.¡±


    ¡°so, are you saying that public opinion had no influence on the verdict under these circumstances?¡± the reporter asked.


    jiang heng did not directly answer that question. he pushed his glasses up and looked around at the people in front of him.


    ¡°the law is written in black and white and is available for anyone to read for a few hundred yuan. there is no favoritism in the judiciary. sentencing falls within a certain range, and as long as it is within that range, everything is reasonable.¡±


    jiang heng looked at the reporter who had asked the question, smiled at him, and continued, ¡°let me give you an analogy. if a thug harasses a woman on the street, and a good samaritan steps in when there are few people around, he might get a slap on the wrist. if there are more people, he might get slapped a few more times. do you understand?¡±


    the reporter¡¯s face turned alternately pale and red as jiang heng spoke. he wanted to retort, but jiang heng¡¯s words had sealed all the loopholes, making it impossible for him to question whether advocating violence was acceptable.


    after all, jiang heng had said it was ¡°acting as a good samaritan.¡±


    jiang heng withdrew his gaze from the reporter and walked away from the crowd.


    the video shook for a moment and abruptly ended with his back view.


    that short video, just a few minutes long, already had quite a few comments below it. perhaps because of jiang heng¡¯s strong presence in the interview, one of the top comments was about him.


    [lawyers are really good at speaking¡ªby the way, he¡¯s quite handsome.]


    seeing this, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but click the like button for that comment.


    as the end of the workday approached, ji yao finished his handover of tasks and made rounds in various wards before heading back. just as he reached the hospital¡¯s entrance, he received a call from jiang heng.


    after changing into casual clothes, ji yao walked out of the hospital building and spotted jiang heng¡¯s car, which was parked conspicuously in front.


    jiang heng had waited at the hospital instead of going home after the trial. he was currently sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, resting with his eyes closed.


    ji yao, carrying an unopened piece of cake from the afternoon, approached the car and tapped on the window.


    jiang heng, looking slightly tired, opened his eyes and glanced at ji yao before unlocking the car door.


    ji yao got into the passenger seat, and as he examined jiang heng¡¯s pale face, he asked, ¡°are you upset?¡±


    ¡°the sentencing was lighter than i expected,¡± jiang heng replied.


    ¡°that¡¯s not bad,¡± ji yao consoled him. ¡°didn¡¯t they confirm that the murder had nothing to do with him?¡±


    jiang heng pursed his lips, still not in the best of spirits.


    the trial had taken the whole day, and jiang heng had followed it from start to finish. now, he was feeling a bit drained. ji yao placed the dessert box on his lap and asked, ¡°did you have lunch?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng replied. ¡°there wasn¡¯t enough time.¡±


    ji yao seriously said, ¡°in that case, let¡¯s grab something to eat now. if you don¡¯t eat these snacks, you¡¯ll be even hungrier later. after we met your mum, we can have a proper meal.¡±


    bringing up this topic made ji yao uncomfortable. whenever it was mentioned, he couldn¡¯t help but think about the major hurdle in front of him. he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.


    jiang heng drove the car out of the hospital parking lot and couldn¡¯t help but glance at ji yao with curiosity.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± jiang heng asked. ¡°are you feeling nervous?¡±


    ¡°of course,¡± ji yao said through gritted teeth. ¡°aren¡¯t you? i mean, who wouldn¡¯t be anxious when they have to come out to their family? let me tell you, just be cautious. coming out can be like walking on thin ice. maybe your mom will be polite and grant you your freedom. but if you really bring your boyfriend to meet her, you never know what might happen.¡±


    this statement seemed to strike a chord with jiang heng, and he burst into laughter. ji yao even suspected that if parking wasn¡¯t prohibited at the hospital entrance, he might have parked the car by the roadside and laughed for three minutes before continuing.


    ¡°it¡¯s okay, don¡¯t be afraid,¡± jiang heng said after laughing. ¡°my mom is a unique woman. she won¡¯t meddle in my affairs, let alone yours. oh, she might express some concern, she¡¯ll probably worry about the lifespan of the cactus that¡¯s going to spend the rest of its life with me.¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­?¡±

 CH 51

    mrs. xiaotong was an interesting person. if you were to extract a few labels from her life, the first one would definitely be ¡°free-spirited.¡±


    at the age of seventeen, she traveled all around china, and by nineteen, she was already in a romantic relationship and married. at the age of twenty, she gave birth to jiang heng, and her life was like stepping on the accelerator pedal, racing forward.


    ¡°my maternal grandfather was one of the first university graduates in new china. he was a fairly good engineer after graduation and met my grandmother when he was involved in a relatively significant confidential project. my mother was born when my grandmother was in her mid-thirties.¡± jiang heng drove onto the main road and casually lowered the volume of the sound system. then he continued, ¡°my maternal grandfather had a broad perspective, and he didn¡¯t have the traditional mindset of favoring sons over daughters. so, he raised my mom to be quite¡­ free-spirited.¡±


    jiang heng smiled and added, almost as if he was reporting a minor offense, ¡°on my eighth birthday, she bought a cake taller than me at the time as a surprise. however, while setting up the surprise at home, she couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of the cake and ended up cutting a piece for herself. she even accidentally broke the chocolate sign that had my name on it while cutting the cake. to cover up her tracks, she inserted the chocolate piece into the cake and claimed it was like that from the beginning.¡±


    ji yao chuckled. ¡°really? didn¡¯t you cry?¡±


    ¡°what¡¯s the big deal?¡± jiang heng said casually. ¡°thinking about it now, it was quite childish, but it was all good fun.¡±


    mrs. xiaotong got married early and gave birth to jiang heng before she had fully grown up. instances like this, where she didn¡¯t pay attention to details, were common. there was even a time when she mistook her business ledger for jiang heng¡¯s notebook when packing his school bag. this mistake led to jiang heng having to write an extra composition the next day.


    after that incident, jiang heng didn¡¯t dare to let his mum pack his school bag again, and he developed a strong sense of self-reliance.


    ¡°my mom loves to have fun,¡± jiang heng paused, seeming to think that his previous statement might be misconstrued, so he added, ¡°it¡¯s different from people like us. my mom is good at swimming, martial arts, and all sorts of outdoor activities. when she was younger, she would often drag me out to play whenever she was in the mood, and there was no stopping her.¡±


    this was the first time ji yao had heard jiang heng talk about his childhood, and it felt quite refreshing. he couldn¡¯t help but turn his head to look at jiang heng¡¯s profile and asked eagerly, ¡°how old were you back then?¡±


    ¡°about eight or nine years old? i had just started primary school.¡± jiang heng smiled. ¡°speaking of which, did you ever receive those notices from school during summer and winter vacations, telling parents to supervise their children and not let them play near rivers or go to internet cafes or video arcades?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± ji yao nodded.


    ¡°i actually signed those notices myself. my mum didn¡¯t care about them. she believed that children had their own nature, and if they were inclined to misbehave, they would do it no matter what. if they weren¡¯t, it didn¡¯t matter where you took them.¡± jiang heng said, ¡°my skill in playing billiards was taught by her. the first time i touched a pool cue, i was quite young.¡±


    ji yao, ¡°¡­¡±


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but be surprised at mrs. xiaotong¡¯s parenting style. he had grown up in a traditional family with strict rules, so hearing about jiang heng¡¯s mother¡¯s approach was both unimaginable and slightly enviable.


    ¡°didn¡¯t you feel envious of other kids when you were in school?¡± ji yao couldn¡¯t help but wonder. ¡°having a mom like that?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± jiang heng burst into laughter. ¡°when i was in elementary school, she attended a parent-teacher conference, and my classmates thought she was my sister.¡±


    ¡°in elementary school?¡± ji yao laughed. ¡°they didn¡¯t think the same in middle school?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng¡¯s smile faded slightly. ¡°i didn¡¯t meet with my mum as often in middle school.¡±


    ji yao raised an eyebrow in curiosity. ¡°why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not a big deal. my grandfather didn¡¯t approve of my mom getting married so early, and he didn¡¯t like the man she chose. but during her rebellious phase, the more my grandfather objected, the more she wanted to get married. in the end, he didn¡¯t stop her and agreed.¡± jiang heng explained, ¡°however, her choice in men wasn¡¯t great. she was too young and was easily deceived. later, her marriage wasn¡¯t very happy.¡±


    the conversation suddenly took a somber turn, and ji yao regretted asking that question. however, jiang heng didn¡¯t seem to be bothered by it. his momentary discomfort only lasted for a brief moment before he returned to normal.


    ¡°but she managed to make the right decision in time,¡± jiang heng continued. ¡°by the way, give me a cigarette?¡±


    jiang heng was driving, so ji yao reached into the glove compartment and handed him half a pack of cigarettes.


    ¡°do you really want one?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°just one,¡± jiang heng negotiated with ji yao. ¡°i¡¯ve had a headache after listening to the court proceedings all day.¡±


    neither ji yao nor jiang heng had a smoking habit, but they occasionally used cigarettes as a way to relieve stress. in their high-pressure jobs, it was sometimes necessary to have a small release.


    ji yao took a cigarette from the pack, contemplated for a moment, and instead of giving it to jiang heng, he lit it himself.


    he bit the cigarette with his teeth, tightened his grip, and brought it closer to the flame.


    jiang heng noticed ji yao¡¯s actions and, without stopping him, slowed down the car¡¯s speed. he saw what ji yao was trying to do.


    after lighting the cigarette, ji yao took a puff to make sure it was lit before passing it to jiang heng.


    ¡°taking advantage of me?¡± jiang heng chuckled.


    ¡°well, that¡¯s the only way to light it,¡± ji yao replied seriously.


    jiang heng smiled and didn¡¯t expose him any further. he accepted the cigarette, then opened the car window slightly to let the smoke drift out. after that, he continued their previous conversation.


    ¡°anyway, she married a french businessman of italian descent a few years ago, and now she¡¯s living well abroad. she¡¯s also happy. he¡¯s a year younger than her, but he treats her very well. according to my mom, they are soulmates.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s good,¡± ji yao sighed in relief.


    he had been worried that he might say something to trigger painful memories for jiang heng, but hearing that his mother had found happiness brought some comfort.


    ¡°are you still nervous?¡± jiang heng asked.


    ji yao checked his feelings and found that he was indeed feeling much better. he shook his head honestly.


    jiang heng smiled and didn¡¯t say anything more.


    he drove ji yao to the airport and then led him to the underground level. ji yao initially thought he was going to buy a gift for mrs. xiaotong, but to his surprise, jiang heng took him to a watch store.


    ¡°huh?¡± ji yao pointed to the other side and asked, ¡°isn¡¯t the jewelry store over there?¡±


    ¡°yeah, i know,¡± jiang heng said.


    ji yao glanced around, feeling puzzled. he had seen the store¡¯s logo before entering, and while the store wasn¡¯t exactly affordable, it seemed like an unusual choice for a gift¡ªespecially since, although jiang heng hadn¡¯t said it outright, it was evident from his words that mrs. xiaotong was well off.


    could it be that jiang heng had changed his taste? ji yao wondered.


    he followed jiang heng to the counter, and the salesperson handed jiang heng a square-shaped watch box.


    jiang heng opened the box, revealing a mechanical watch with a deep blue leather strap inside. the watch had a simple and clean design with a white dial and gold frame, adorned only with a small moon phase wheel.


    ¡°give me your hand,¡± jiang heng said.


    ji yao instinctively extended his hand, but he quickly pulled it back before jiang heng could put the watch on his wrist.


    ¡°did you buy it for me?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°who else would it be for?¡± jiang heng held the watch and smiled. ¡°is there anyone else here besides you and me?¡±


    ji yao, feeling a bit awkward, patted jiang heng¡¯s hand lightly. ¡°you don¡¯t have to look at me, keep an eye out for your mom! what if we miss her?¡±


    jiang heng thought for a moment and, before he could respond, he heard someone not far behind them calling his name.


    ¡°heng¡ªheng¡ª!¡±

 CH 52

    jiang heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    the voice was sweet and childish, with a clear pronunciation, giving it the aura of a poetry recitation. jiang heng and ji yao both turned their heads involuntarily to look. they saw a ¡°little cannonball¡± approaching from a distance, running towards jiang heng with fast steps, and then she hugged his leg.


    the ¡°little cannonball¡± was wearing a lion dance cloak, and her hat fell off as she ran. she clung to jiang heng¡¯s leg and looked up at him, chuckling.


    ji yao finally saw that it was a little girl, probably around two or three years old, and she bore a striking resemblance to jiang heng in her facial features.


    his expression became somewhat subtle for a moment. if it weren¡¯t for the middle-aged couple following the little girl from behind, ji yao would have thought that this was jiang heng¡¯s long-lost child.


    ¡°heng heng?¡± ji yao teased him, nudging him playfully.


    jiang heng cleared his throat lightly and discreetly nudged ji yao back with his elbow.


    he bent down slightly, picked up the little girl, and then naturally held ji yao¡¯s hand, interlocking their fingers, leading him towards the middle-aged couple behind them.


    in recent days, jiang heng seemed like a proper partner. he ate well, accepted the flowers, but had never initiated such an intimate physical contact with ji yao. ji yao was taken aback for a moment when he was pulled like this, and he almost didn¡¯t react in time.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t say anything, but his fingers tightened slightly as he held ji yao¡¯s hand. ji yao, only then realizing that they were currently ¡°pretending to be boyfriends,¡± holding hands, which was perfectly normal.


    ¡°who is this?¡± ji yao leaned closer and whispered in jiang heng¡¯s ear, ¡°she looks a lot like you.¡±


    ¡°my sister,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°my mom¡¯s second child, turning three soon, her name is amber.¡±


    jiang heng cleared his throat softly and couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°can a three-year-old run, jump, and talk? i thought she would be pushed in a stroller.¡±


    three years old? ji yao was stunned for a moment and was about to ask a few more questions when he saw amber leaning on jiang heng¡¯s shoulder, reaching out to grab his clothes.


    ¡°who are you?¡± amber asked curiously, ¡°heng heng¡¯s boyfriend?¡±


    amber¡¯s appearance clearly leaned more towards her father, with fair skin, light-colored hair, and a pair of beautiful blue eyes, but there were hints of jiang heng¡¯s features in her eyebrows and eyes.


    under the gaze of those eyes, ji yao seemed a little uncomfortable. he coughed lightly, nodded politely, and reluctantly replied, ¡°yes, i am.¡±


    although she grew up abroad, her chinese was quite good. ji yao wondered if her parents had talked about this in front of her. amber spoke the words ¡°boyfriend¡± very naturally, as if she had heard it before.


    ji yao felt a bit awkward being questioned by this little gossip machine with a chinese community auntie¡¯s style. he tugged on jiang heng¡¯s clothes from behind.


    ¡°not yet,¡± jiang heng answered seriously, ¡°but it¡¯s something we¡¯ll consider.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s great! you can get married in france!¡± amber cheered, ¡°then you can kiss heng heng by the seine river!¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    help, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but think. why didn¡¯t he think about how strange jiang heng¡¯s family members were before?


    ¡°don¡¯t be rude, ¡°suddenly a hand appeared and gently patted amber¡¯s back. ¡°call him ¡®brother.''¡±


    ji yao looked up and realized that xiaotong had approached them.


    now that they were closer, ji yao could see that jiang heng¡¯s appearance was quite similar to his mother. xiaotong was a strikingly beautiful woman with an impressive aura. she looked to be around thirty-seven or thirty-eight, probably because she had taken good care of herself. at first glance, she didn¡¯t look like jiang heng¡¯s mother but more like his sister.


    amber seemed a little intimidated by her own mother. she obediently corrected herself, saying, ¡°big brother.¡±


    jiang heng nodded and put amber down, then naturally took ji yao¡¯s hand, interlocking their fingers, and walked with him towards xiaotong and her husband.


    xiaotong, who had approached, was suddenly reminded of something. she patted her palm lightly and turned her attention to ji yao.


    ¡°ji yao, would you like to stay with us too?¡± xiaotong asked with a smile. ¡°that way, you won¡¯t have to be apart from heng heng.¡±


    ji yao was caught off guard by this question and didn¡¯t expect xiaotong to be so open-minded. he glanced at jiang heng, unsure of how he would react.


    in truth, ji yao didn¡¯t mind the idea, as he had already decided to pursue jiang heng. however, he was concerned about whether jiang heng would find it difficult.


    ¡°well¡­ auntie, i have to go to work tomorrow,¡± ji yao smiled and politely declined. ¡°my hospital is a bit far from here.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s no problem,¡± jiang heng suddenly spoke up. ¡°i¡¯ll drive you there in the morning.¡±

 CH 53

    compared to a ¡°villa,¡± xiaotong¡¯s house looked more like a small mansion, with a total of three floors, plus an additional basement and a small attic.


    ji yao initially thought her house would be in the suburbs, but to his surprise, it wasn¡¯t far from the city center; it was hidden in a private community on the outskirts of the old city area with a pleasant environment.


    looking out from the balcony on the second floor, you could see a clear, shallow river.


    ¡°my dad left me this house,¡± xiaotong said when she noticed ji yao glancing around. she smiled and continued, ¡°it¡¯s been around for a while, but i¡¯ve lived here since i was a child, so i have a certain attachment to it.¡±


    ¡°i can tell,¡± ji yao replied. ¡°it¡¯s very well-maintained.¡±


    xiaotong had been abroad for several years, but the house didn¡¯t give off a sense of long abandonment. the interior still had the appearance of an old western-style house, but the furnishings had been completely transformed. sets of tables and chairs were adorned with floral patterns, while the decorations on the dining table leaned more towards european styles. soft cushions with cute cartoon patterns were placed on the fabric sofas.


    christmas was approaching at the end of the month, so the interior had been decorated in advance. a christmas tree stood quietly in one corner of the living room, and the string lights hung high in the entrance hallway had yet to be turned on.


    this clearly wasn¡¯t the decoration xiaotong had done before going abroad. ji yao realized that it was probably done by jiang heng.


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but look at him, feeling puzzled.


    does he have forty-eight hours in a day? ji yao couldn¡¯t help but wonder. how can he effortlessly remember everyone¡¯s preferences and handle everything so perfectly?


    ¡°ji yao, why don¡¯t you stay upstairs with xiaoheng?¡± xiaotong, without any reservations, held onto ji yao¡¯s arm and smiled, pointing to the layout of the house. ¡°my room is on the first floor, and there¡¯s also a dining room there. if you ever feel like having a snack at night, just come down here.¡±


    ji yao felt a bit amused but refrained from saying that he was almost thirty years old and didn¡¯t need to sneak out for late-night snacks. however, when xiaotong enthusiastically showed him around the house and shared some of its quirky secrets, ji yao decided not to voice that thought.


    ¡°the backyard is also part of our home,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°if you want to take a walk, you can go directly to the riverside through the back door.¡±


    ¡°got it, mom,¡± jiang heng, after a final check of the water, electricity, and gas in the room, came over and rescued ji yao. ¡°let him go upstairs and put away his luggage.¡±


    ¡°oh, right, right,¡± xiaotong waved to him and said, ¡°go ahead, hurry up, and come down after you¡¯ve put your luggage away.¡±


    ji yao nodded and was about to go grab the suitcase he had hastily packed, but jiang heng had already picked it up and headed upstairs ahead of him.


    the layout upstairs was similar to the one downstairs. near the balcony, there was a small living room, and opposite that were two bedrooms of approximately the same size. the bedroom doors were wide open, revealing identical sets of bedding inside.


    ¡°which room are you staying in?¡± jiang heng asked.


    with his mom¡¯s presence no longer there, ji yao gained a bit more courage. he smiled and playfully asked, ¡°aren¡¯t you staying with me?¡±


    ¡°so soon,¡± jiang heng didn¡¯t directly answer and took the initiative to push ji yao¡¯s suitcase into the room next to the stairs.


    then he clapped his hands and turned to ji yao, approaching him leisurely.


    ¡°why do you think my mom invited you here?¡± jiang heng asked.


    ¡°why?¡± ji yao blinked and jokingly said, ¡°is it to lure me in and then kill me?¡±


    ¡°she does like to create dramas, but she¡¯s not foolish,¡± jiang heng said, his arms enclosing ji yao as he leaned closer. ¡°she just wants to see how we get along.¡±


    jiang heng had impeccable control of this distance. he enclosed ji yao as if he were holding him in his arms, but there was no actual contact. it appeared affectionate yet distant, with only their warm breaths mingling.


    ji yao tilted back slightly, pondered for a moment, and then smiled, saying, ¡°so do i need to be extra nice to you? what if your mom doesn¡¯t approve of me after her assessment, and then she persuades you to break up with me?¡±


    ¡°break up?¡± jiang heng touched on that word with a hint of interest, clicking his tongue lightly and pretending to be troubled. ¡°are we in a real relationship already?¡±


    ¡°soon,¡± ji yao responded, quite unhappy with his calculated behavior. he sighed softly and added, ¡°very soon, alright?¡±


    jiang heng chuckled in a somewhat sulky manner. ji yao only realized something was off when he reacted and got annoyed. he clicked his tongue in frustration and suddenly regained his composure.


    ¡°wait, aren¡¯t we ¡®pretending¡¯ right now?¡± ji yao¡¯s voice was low, with a hint of gritted teeth. ¡°aren¡¯t we still acting? can¡¯t you maintain a bit of professionalism?¡±


    as ji yao spoke, as if unwilling to be deceived by jiang heng again, he attempted to move closer to kiss the corner of his lips.


    however, jiang heng took advantage of the situation, stood upright, slightly turned his head, and evaded the kiss.


    ¡°alright, alright, alright,¡± jiang heng quickly gave in. ¡°you win, okay?¡±


    before they could finish their conversation, xiaotong had already changed into a new outfit, standing at the foot of the stairs and calling out their names.


    ¡°xiaoheng, yao yao!¡± xiaotong asked. ¡°are you ready yet? are you coming down?¡±


    ji yao dared to flirt with jiang heng but not in front of the parents. subconsciously, he distanced himself from jiang heng and discreetly straightened his clothes while giving a vague response.


    ¡°come down quickly,¡± xiaotong urged. ¡°let¡¯s go shopping!¡±


    shopping seemed to be an eternal topic for women of all ages. xiaotong was in her middle age, and she had just taken a long international flight, but she showed no signs of fatigue. she was even more energetic than the two young men.


    xiaotong hadn¡¯t been back to china for several years, and she was excited to see everything as if it were a long-awaited reunion. luckily, jiang heng managed to persuade her, or she might have bought a cape for amber at the pet store.


    ¡°such a pity,¡± xiao tong lamented. ¡°that panda cape was so cute.¡±


    ¡°but it¡¯s too cartoonish,¡± jiang heng said without changing his expression. ¡°and it¡¯s too thin; it¡¯s not suitable for winter. i think the lion dance coat she wore when you returned to china is nice. you can get that one.¡±


    after a moment¡¯s thought, xiaotong was easily convinced.


    ¡°that makes sense,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°then let¡¯s go pick out a tie for ji yao as well.¡±


    xiaotong¡¯s shopping desire was quite unpredictable. she bought ji yao two sets of clothes, a bottle of perfume, and even picked up a jade pendant while casually shopping. ji yao felt hesitant to accept it, but xiaotong insisted, so he had no choice but to take it.


    before leaving, ji yao initially thought that with his experience in the operating room over the past few years, he would have no trouble shopping at a mall. however, xiaotong¡¯s shopping stamina exceeded his expectations. after going up and down several floors, ji yao felt like his legs were turning into noodles.


    even though jiang heng was like a human ai with three heads and six arms, shopping for too long seemed to wear him out as well. they intuitively slowed down their pace and trailed behind xiaotong as she explored the mall, ready to help her with her shopping bags.


    ¡°was your mom like this before?¡± ji yao cautiously whispered to jiang heng, ¡°i can see that she¡¯s much fitter than you.¡±


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong with my physical fitness?¡± jiang heng wasn¡¯t too pleased and retorted, ¡°i do regular workouts.¡±


    ¡°then how did you end up in the emergency room?¡± ji yao pointed out mercilessly.


    jiang heng opened his mouth as if he wanted to explain something, but he was interrupted by xiaotong¡¯s call. thus, he could only let it go.


    approaching the end of the year, various parts of the mall were hosting events. there was a small carnival set up on the ground floor, and one of the activities was a music and score recognition game, with a lottery ticket as the prize.


    xiaotong was interested in this game, as she had learned to play the piano when she was younger. she decided to give it a try and effortlessly identified the sheet music.


    the carnival was crowded, and jiang heng and ji yao didn¡¯t want to squeeze into the group of teenagers. they stood on the outskirts of the crowd and chatted, but soon, they saw xiaotong walking out of the crowd with a smile, holding a box of chocolate with crushed nuts.


    ¡°ji yao,¡± xiaotong handed the chocolates to him and smiled, saying, ¡°this is for you.¡±


    ¡°huh?¡± ji yao was momentarily stunned. ¡°for me?¡±


    ¡°take it,¡± jiang heng, hooking the corner of his lips, teased, ¡°only kids eat snacks.¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t be jealous!¡± xiaotong said quickly. ¡°wait, mom will go win one for you too!¡±


    her words were barely out when she rushed back into the carnival venue, leaving jiang heng and ji yao behind. jiang heng shook his head and laughed helplessly.


    however, ji yao lowered his head and looked at the box of childishly packaged chocolates in his hand. he fell into an inexplicable silence for a moment.


    after a while, he tore open the wrapping paper and took a piece, then put it in his mouth.


    clearly, those chocolates were intended for children. they were excessively sweet and sugary and had a strong milky chocolate flavor that could be tasted with just a slight lick.


    ji yao¡¯s expression gradually calmed down, and he licked his lips while contemplating for a moment. then, he picked out a piece of chocolate and touched it to jiang heng¡¯s lips.


    ¡°eat one,¡± ji yao said. ¡°it¡¯s very sweet.¡±


    childish as it may seem, at this moment, ji yao was suddenly overwhelmed by an inexplicable feeling¡ªa concept that was very mysterious, as if it blended freedom, love, and warmth, something he had never experienced in his own family.


    if he had grown up in a family like this, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but think, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t have become the hesitant and indecisive person he was now. maybe he would have had more courage when facing everything.


    jiang heng blinked, observed ji yao¡¯s expression, and for some reason, he didn¡¯t reject him this time. instead, he slightly opened his mouth and took the chocolate inside.


    ¡°jiang heng¡ª¡±


    ¡°ji yao¡ª¡±


    after a while, both of them suddenly called out each other¡¯s names at the same time, and then they stopped.


    ¡°you go first,¡± jiang heng said.


    ¡°i just wanted to ask you something,¡± ji yao licked his lips, speaking softly, ¡°if i could hand over the other end of the chain to you, would you consider getting back together with me?¡±

 CH 54

    jiang heng knew that ji yao was serious.


    he had lived under strict control since childhood and detested the feeling of being restrained. the fact that he could say these words clearly indicated that he had made a resolute decision.


    he was stepping out of his comfort zone, taking a big step towards jiang heng.


    jiang heng hesitated for a moment, almost moved by ji yao¡¯s determination to go all-in.


    as new year¡¯s day approached, the mall was filled with promotional discounts and activities. christmas decorations adorned the shop windows, and the ground floor lobby boasted a christmas tree over six meters tall, surrounded by gifts of all sizes.


    childish yet cheerful tunes played from the speakers, laughter filled the carnival, and occasionally, teenagers ran past them, rushing to the other side to board a small train ride.


    the baking stalls emitted the sweet scent of buttercream, and a plate of cream puffs for sampling was placed in full view. freshly made vanilla ice cream flowed down the sides of ice cream cones, landing on tissue papers.


    people were indeed strange sensitive creatures; many things might be ordinary and unremarkable by themselves, but when they appeared in specific times and environments, they took on different colors due to the atmosphere.


    at this moment, jiang heng thought.


    with the country thriving and its people living in peace and prosperity, xiaotong stood in front of a poetry stall not far away, pondering how to win a childish snack that had nothing to do with her age. meanwhile, ji yao was trying to express his love for jiang heng in a subtle way, using an atmosphere that was nothing short of magical.


    in this setting, at this moment, the concept of a ¡°confession¡± seemed to be shrouded in a sweet and joyful scent, tempting people to indulge in it.


    for jiang heng, everything happening right now seemed like an enormous temptation.


    jiang heng felt a strange allure in this situation. he noticed ji yao¡¯s hesitation but also his determination. he saw that ji yao was genuine, but he also saw the potential risks and challenges of the path they were about to embark on.


    he felt that the word ¡°yes¡± was on the tip of his tongue, ready to spill out if he just opened his mouth.


    he did want to say yes to ji yao, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. so, he bit down on his tongue to suppress the response he had prepared.


    because jiang heng knew that ji yao was easily influenced. the environment, the atmosphere, and even a momentary action could sway him. however, he understood that this wavering was just a momentary impulse. to make a lasting and firm choice, one needed to be more cautious and careful.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t doubt ji yao¡¯s sincerity; he was only worried if ji yao was truly prepared.


    prepared for the long term, the stability, and a commitment to spend their lives together.


    people couldn¡¯t live their lives in bondage. eventually, the chain would cause pain.


    then they would struggle, resist, just as they had resisted their parents¡¯ control when leaving home.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t want ji yao to suffer, nor did he want to face such a high-risk future.


    he was willing to take on ji yao¡¯s chain, but he hoped that ji yao would willingly choose to stay by his side, even if another chain tried to pull him in a different direction.


    ¡°you¡¯re being impulsive,¡± jiang heng said with a light smile. ¡°aren¡¯t you afraid of going all-in and losing? what if i bully you?¡±


    when ji yao heard jiang heng changing the topic, his heart sank halfway. he couldn¡¯t hide his disappointment as he lowered his eyes and let out a soft sigh.


    but he also knew that jiang heng¡¯s personality was such that he would be even more cautious when deciding things the second time around.


    jiang heng used to be easy to pursue. back then, he was gentle, considerate, and compliant, naturally getting closer to ji yao. he was completely open about keeping ji yao and did not hold anything back. yet ji yao hadn¡¯t cherished him.


    he had lost the chance, and now he was facing this ¡°difficult mode.¡±


    from the corner of his eye, jiang heng noticed ji yao¡¯s subtle movements. he smiled and shifted a little closer to him.


    ¡°do you like me?¡± ji yao suddenly asked.


    jiang heng gave him an amused glance, making a sound of agreement.


    ¡°how much?¡± ji yao persisted.


    ¡°why?¡± jiang heng asked, a playful tone in his voice. ¡°are you taking a census?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± ji yao replied, licking his lips and looking nervously at the distant figure of xiaotong. in a soft voice, he continued, ¡°just tell me, after my confession, is there a bit more of this ¡®liking¡¯?¡±


    jiang heng gazed at him with a smile, and after a moment, he nodded slightly.


    ¡°a bit more now,¡± jiang heng said.

 CH 55

    at three in the morning, the overhead light in the surgical ward flickered silently for a few moments, then made a soft sound, going out without warning.


    ji yao, who was half reclining on the bed, seemed to be awakened by this subtle noise and reflexively sat up from the folding bed.


    the room was dimly lit, with a faint streak of light seeping through the partially closed door. outside the door in the corridor, the soft sound of a nurse passing by could be heard, deliberately pushing a cart with almost inaudible metal clinks.


    ji yao stared at the door for a while, confirming that no one was coming to call him to attend to a patient. he breathed a sigh of relief and reclined back on the bed, lifting his arm to cover his eyes with his forearm.


    ji yao had just had a dream, and he was still trembling from it. cold sweat had soaked the back of his shirt, and the collar clung damply to his skin.


    the dream was chaotic and far from pleasant, and now, with his eyes closed, everything seemed vividly imprinted in his mind.


    in the dream, he had confessed to jiang heng once again on christmas day. this time, jiang heng didn¡¯t evade the topic but straightforwardly accepted, agreeing to let go of the past and start anew.


    in the dream, ji yao was overjoyed. he wanted to celebrate with jiang heng and go out for a nice meal, but before they could get far, xiaotong suddenly appeared and blocked their way.


    ¡°i don¡¯t agree to this,¡± xiaotong¡¯s expression was unusually serious, and in the dream¡¯s already abnormal atmosphere, it seemed even more eerie. ¡°someone told me that you two shouldn¡¯t be together at all.¡±


    xiaotong stepped aside, revealing ji yao¡¯s parents, who inexplicably emerged from behind her. they were still wearing the clothes they had worn to attend a wedding, and both looked angry and exhausted.


    ji yao didn¡¯t realize he was in a dream. his logic automatically filled in the gaps in the dream¡¯s narrative, to the point where he actually explained seriously, ¡°i¡¯ve said before that i¡¯m gay. if i don¡¯t be with him, i¡¯ll be with other men. this is something that can¡¯t be changed.¡±


    ji yao¡¯s father angrily grabbed something to hit him with, and his mother choked back sobs, wiping away tears as she held onto his father¡¯s hand. she tearfully pleaded with ji yao, ¡°don¡¯t be stupid, child. do you understand what it means to start a family? do you want to go down the same path as your mother?¡±


    ¡°she¡¯s right.¡± in the dream, jiang heng, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up. ¡°maybe we should just call it quits here. let¡¯s not make it so that we can¡¯t even have good memories of each other in the end.¡±


    the tone of the dream took a sharp downturn from sweet to bitter, and the abrupt change was as awkward as the worst domestically produced horror movie. but in the dream, ji yao had no resistance at all and was almost forcibly awakened.


    after having such a nonsensical dream, ji yao¡¯s mood was far from good. he let out a long breath, wiped the cold sweat from the back of his neck, and sat up in bed, walking heavily to the water cooler. he poured himself a glass of cold water.


    the icy liquid flowed down his throat and into his chest, making ji yao shiver suddenly, fully awake.


    he turned on the screen of his phone, and the time on it had already rolled over to a new day. on his memo, there was still a reminder about christmas, and the ¡°deadline¡± set by jiang heng was approaching.


    maybe it was because he was too nervous, ji yao thought.


    the pressure from his parents in the dream still lingered, but ji yao, lost in the aftermath of these emotions, for the first time in his life, didn¡¯t feel the urge to escape.


    in the past few weeks leading up to the new year, ji yao¡¯s on-call schedule had changed slightly, and he had become busier with work. this had significantly reduced the time he could spend with jiang heng, mostly limited to brief encounters after work and hurried breakfasts together in the morning.


    the brief separation in their lives stabilized the release of dopamine, and ji yao¡¯s earlier eagerness, which bordered on obsession, began to subside. he started to think about the future with jiang heng in a more sober and reflective manner.


    perhaps in a person¡¯s life, the most crucial decisions are made impulsively. just as ¡°limited-time offers¡± make consumers feel a sense of urgency, the opportunity to ¡°regain what was lost¡± was also driven by the heat of emotion.


    during this time, ji yao had pondered this matter. he understood jiang heng¡¯s reservations, so after calming down, he tried to view himself as objectively as possible.


    but every time, his answer remained the same.


    at this moment, in the midst of the lingering atmosphere of this chaotic and inexplicable dream, ji yao sipped his cold water and asked himself one last time on this late night, ¡°do i really need him?¡±


    he hardly hesitated and quickly gave an affirmative answer.


    after parting ways with jiang heng, he had attempted to start over, but he had failed. it was as if jiang heng was the only one in the world who could give him that dangerous yet comforting feeling, making him both restless and secure.


    it was as if jiang heng had stolen his heart three years ago, to the extent that among all the people in the world, ji yao was only willing to give that special place in his heart to jiang heng.


    ¡ªhe really wanted to spend a lifetime in love with jiang heng.


    with this thought in mind, all the swirling and swaying emotions seemed to settle with a single decisive blow.


    ji yao finished the remaining water in his glass and couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips.


    but soon, he realized another problem ¡ª how could he make jiang heng believe him? that was the real issue.


    thinking of this, ji yao¡¯s face showed a look of distress. he got up from the bed, paced around the room, glanced at his phone several times, and in his mind, an image of a clever strategist appeared.


    after a moment of hesitation, he walked out of the rest area and looked around to ensure there were no unexpected situations in the corridor. then he turned back into the rest area and dialed ge xing¡¯s number.


    fortunately, ge xing was a night owl with a reversed sleep schedule. he didn¡¯t get annoyed even when ji yao called him in the middle of the night and enthusiastically chatted with ji yao about the matter.


    ¡°so, you mean you want me to help you come up with a plan?¡± ge xing said with a cluck of his tongue, amused. ¡°aren¡¯t you two a perfect match made by fate, with the matchmaker¡¯s blessing? do you really need someone else¡¯s help?¡±


    ¡°oh, forget it then,¡± ji yao, who was willing to admit his mistake, said straightforwardly. ¡°i¡¯ll just wait until jiang heng wakes up and ask him myself.¡±


    ¡°hey hey hey, you!¡± ge xing repeatedly called out, displeased. ¡°why are you in such a hurry? is this your attitude when seeking help from others?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m sorry, my bad,¡± ji yao said with a smile. ¡°since you¡¯re the expert, please help me think of a solution quickly. for example, how should i express my sincerity?¡±


    ¡°how to express it?¡± ji yao asked humbly.


    ¡°it¡¯s simple,¡± ge xing said. ¡°as adults, there are only a few ways to express sincerity. one is by causing some trouble, the second is through formal means, and the third is by cutting off all retreats¡ª¡±


    ge xing said a few words and then sighed, saying, ¡°for example, in a romantic relationship, when you reach the end, it¡¯s marriage, right? what is marriage? it¡¯s essentially the same as these three approaches; the essence is the same.¡±


    ji yao found himself agreeing with ge xing¡¯s words. he thought for a moment and suddenly asked, ¡°do you know a lawyer?¡±


    ¡°what for?¡± ge xing scoffed. ¡°there¡¯s a live lawyer right next to you. are you asking me if i know one? i¡¯ll give you jiang heng¡¯s business card, how about that?¡±


    ¡°find another one,¡± ji yao said with a good temper.


    ¡°huh?¡± ge xing raised his voice in suspicion, his tone filled with amusement. ¡°already at the stage of establishing pre-marital property? alright, wait a moment, i¡¯ll find you a lawyer who specializes in property notarization.¡±


    ji yao thought for a moment and suddenly asked, ¡°do you know a divorce lawyer?¡±


    ¡°no, that¡¯s not possible,¡± ge xing said righteously. ¡°if you do that, you¡¯ll ruin my reputation. i¡¯m all about reconciling, not encouraging separation.¡±


    ge xing was hesitant, but he was reliable when it came to getting things done. he quickly found a contact for ji yao and told him, ¡°he specializes in non-litigation cases. you can consult with him, but anything beyond that, he won¡¯t be able to help.¡±


    ¡°alright, thank you,¡± ji yao said.


    ¡°don¡¯t mention it.¡± ge xing said.


    ji yao hung up the phone and quickly added the new business card to his contacts. ge xing¡¯s friend was quite similar to him, and they both kept unusual hours. however, he was more experienced in these matters, having gathered both experience and theories over the years. in just a few words, he had gotten to the heart of the matter.


    ¡°very reasonable,¡± ji yao thought for a moment. he then sent a message to jiang heng, who was celebrating his birthday that day.


    ¡°happy birthday,¡± ji yao said.


    ¡°i¡¯ve prepared a birthday gift for you.¡±

 CH 56

    on this calm and quiet evening, there was no commotion in the emergency room, and even the patient wards were free from urgent situations.


    ji yao had a comfortable night shift and it was all thanks to jiang heng.


    jiang heng¡¯s birthday was a positive day, calm and uneventful, ji yao thought.


    his way of giving credit, crude and superstitious as it was, seemed to be how love worked. no matter what pleasant things happened, they would subconsciously be attributed to the other person.


    after finishing morning rounds, he followed the routine and handed over the shift to his colleague. while putting on his coat and explaining the conditions of specific patients to a new intern, he saw a flash of light from his phone. a new message from jiang heng had popped up.


    ¡°i¡¯m waiting for you in the parking lot,¡± he said. ¡°meet me here.¡±


    ji yao unlocked his phone in surprise as he didn¡¯t expect him to come to the hospital.


    he had reversed his sleep schedule for the night shift, and he had told jiang heng that there was no need to come to pick him up. unexpectedly, jiang heng still made the trip.


    ¡°what¡¯s up, doctor ji?¡± the intern at the desk inquired, looking puzzled. ¡°is there a serious issue with this patient?¡±


    ¡°¡­no,¡± ji yao hurriedly replied, regaining his focus. he quickly replied to jiang heng¡¯s message and continued, ¡°but the patient is elderly and has severe osteoporosis. there was also a right radius fracture while the family was providing care yesterday. we need to pay extra attention.¡±


    the intern nodded and entered the information into the memo as ji yao instructed.


    ¡°and the patient in bed 16,¡± ji yao said. ¡°the young boy is alone, and his family¡¯s financial situation isn¡¯t great. his parents are busy with work, so check on him several times during the day.¡±


    ¡°got it,¡± the intern nodded.


    after thinking for a moment and finding no omissions, ji yao nodded and said, ¡°alright, is there anything else you need to ask?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± the intern replied. seeing ji yao¡¯s gaze frequently shifting to his phone, he guessed there was an urgent matter and obediently stood up. ¡°the  teaching instructor is about to start work. if i have any questions later, i can ask him.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s fine,¡± ji yao said. ¡°i¡¯m leaving then.¡±


    putting on his coat, ji yao zipped it up to the top and hurriedly walked out.


    the morning in the hospital was bustling with activity. family members arriving, cafeteria workers preparing meals, and doctors trying to catch the attending physician before they went to the outpatient department. the hallways were filled with hurried footsteps.


    ji yao was stopped three times along the way and patiently dealt with all the family members. only then did he step into the elevator as it arrived.


    the elevator started, and ji yao stood in the corner, staring at the red numbers on the display, counting the seconds meaninglessly in his mind.


    from one to ten, then from ten to one.


    when he had counted to the sixty-second time, the elevator finally reached the ground floor. the crowded crowd flowed out into the lobby, and ji yao walked slightly slower than the others.


    the elevator doors closed behind him, going up again. ji yao looked around and, just as he walked through the lobby, saw jiang heng¡¯s car parked in one of the scattered spaces across from the back door.


    jiang heng always seemed to find the most conspicuous spot to park, making it easy for ji yao to spot him.


    ¡°why did you come so early?¡± ji yao got into the car, handed the red bean milk to jiang heng, and said, ¡°didn¡¯t i say you didn¡¯t have to come to pick me up?¡±


    ¡°xiaotong suddenly wanted to visit the city god temple, set twelve alarms, and woke up all the roosters and everyone in the house,¡± jiang heng said as he drank the milk. he then placed the cup in the cup holder, glanced at the rearview mirror, and drove the car out of the parking lot. ¡°she got up early and realized she couldn¡¯t find her ring while getting ready. she¡¯s still looking for it at home.¡±


    ¡°is it expensive?¡± ji yao became instantly nervous. ¡°why aren¡¯t you helping her look for it?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s her wedding ring, but it¡¯s on the dining table,¡± jiang heng said with a hint of amusement. ¡°she took it off while eating last night and placed it on the candle holder. she just forgot about it. she has a habit of randomly leaving things around; she needs to find it herself this time.¡±


    ¡°you really¡­¡± ji yao couldn¡¯t help but sigh and didn¡¯t know what to say. he could only say, ¡°it¡¯s also your day off, can¡¯t you just sleep in at home?¡±


    ¡°then how would you get home?¡± jiang heng raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°it¡¯s not easy to get a taxi during rush hour, and there¡¯s no direct subway from your hospital to the apartment building. you¡¯d have to transfer twice on the bus. isn¡¯t that hectic?¡±


    ji yao realized that he was right.


    during weekday rush hours, traffic was congested everywhere, especially at the hospital entrance. jiang heng would drive for a while, stop for a while, and it took a long time to even get out of that street.


    there was only a little bit of red bean milk left, and ji yao leaned his head on the seat, stealing glances at jiang heng with a playful smile that he couldn¡¯t suppress.


    jiang heng felt like he was being scrutinized so closely that he would lose a layer of skin. he finally couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°are you in a good mood today?¡±


    jiang heng silently thought for a moment, still unable to figure out what had made ji yao so happy.


    did he win the lottery? jiang heng wondered, but that didn¡¯t make sense because ji yao couldn¡¯t even distinguish between mega millions and powerball.


    ¡°a bit,¡± ji yao said.


    ji yao only admitted it without mentioning the reason. jiang heng had been waiting for ji yao¡¯s follow-up, but to his surprise, ji yao didn¡¯t seem inclined to explain further. he suddenly felt suspended in mid-air and it made him uncomfortable.


    unfortunately, ji yao didn¡¯t seem to notice jiang heng¡¯s unease. he increased the air conditioning slightly, then took out his phone to respond to wechat messages he hadn¡¯t had a chance to reply to earlier.


    there wasn¡¯t anything interesting in the work group chat, so ji yao scrolled down and unexpectedly found a new message from an unexpected contact.


    he was about to open it when his phone displayed a low battery warning at ten percent.


    ¡°forgot to charge it,¡± ji yao lightly clicked his tongue and said, ¡°do you have your tablet? let me borrow it.¡±


    due to the nature of his work, jiang heng usually had his tablet phone on him at all times. upon hearing ji yao¡¯s request, he tilted his head slightly and said, ¡°it¡¯s in my bag in the back.¡±


    ji yao stretched his arm and retrieved the tablet from the backseat, unlocked it, and then signed in to his own wechat account.


    his own phone had automatically shut down due to low battery, so ji yao found the recent contact in the list and sent a reply.


    ¡°new year? are you celebrating by yourself?¡±


    ¡°of course not!¡± came the quick reply from the other side. ¡°so i was wondering if you¡¯d like to come out for a get-together. it¡¯s also a good opportunity to thank you for what happened before.¡±


    ¡°¡ª¡ªliu mianmian?¡± jiang heng suddenly said with a subtle tone, ¡°your fianc¨¦e? you¡¯re still in contact with her?¡±


    jiang heng swore he didn¡¯t intentionally peek at ji yao¡¯s chat records. it was just that the tablet screen was too big, and he happened to glance at the rearview mirror while making a right turn, accidentally catching a glimpse of it.


    ji yao was initially puzzled about how jiang heng knew that liu mianmian was the ¡°intended bride¡± he almost married. however, after some thought, he realized that jiang heng had known about it back then, and it wasn¡¯t surprising that he had investigated.


    jiang heng¡¯s tone was strange, and it sounded extremely unnatural. ji yao felt a bit stung by his words, and he suddenly remembered that when he had first reunited with jiang heng, he had been just as cryptic and prickly, like a cactus.


    that¡¯s right, back then, jiang heng didn¡¯t know that ji yao wasn¡¯t married. ji yao realized this belatedly. later, after the young nurse ¡°betrayed¡± him, jiang heng had become much friendlier.


    ji yao raised an eyebrow, and a certain speculation suddenly crossed his mind.


    jiang heng had always been so calm, his personality was like the calm sea on a sunny day, rarely showing any fluctuations, and even when he did, it was usually positive. seeing him genuinely agitated was rarer than a meteor shower.


    now, for a rare moment, ji yao decided to test him. he responded to a message from liu mianmian, politely declining her invitation, and then he turned off the screen, looking somewhat clueless about the situation, like an unassuming, straightforward guy who couldn¡¯t read the room, saying, ¡°we can be friends even if we called off our marriage.¡±


    jiang heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    jiang heng¡¯s expression instantly darkened, devoid of the warmth that had come to pick ji yao up earlier. he pursed his lips and didn¡¯t even spare a glance at ji yao, taking the empty red bean milk cup out of the cup holder between them and tossing it into the car¡¯s trash bin like he was throwing a fit.


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but size him up and suddenly had a hunch.


    ¡°are you angry?¡± ji yao asked tentatively.


    jiang heng simply ignored him.


    ji yao cautiously moved closer to him, trying to gauge his expression, but jiang heng seemed determined not to pay him any attention. he frowned, and turned the air conditioning temperature to cold.


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    maybe it¡¯s better not to provoke him for now, ji yao thought. otherwise, he was afraid that jiang heng would leave him by the side of the road and then call a car to take him back.


    this high-temper, low-pressure atmosphere continued until they reached ji yao¡¯s doorstep. along the way, jiang heng didn¡¯t say a word to ji yao, and when they arrived, he didn¡¯t say anything, simply unfastened his seatbelt and prepared to get out of the car.


    ji yao quickly put his hand on jiang heng¡¯s hand that was about to open the car door and blinked at him.


    ¡°are you really angry?¡± ji yao asked.


    jiang heng lowered his gaze and looked at him expressionlessly.


    ji yao sighed inwardly.


    actually, ji yao had originally thought that it was fortunate that nothing had happened, and he had a chance to start over, which was already good enough. since the mistake had already been made, it didn¡¯t really matter what twists and turns there were. jiang heng had already made it clear that he didn¡¯t blame him for what had happened, so it meant that this chapter had already been turned, and there was no need to explain it all over again. otherwise, it would seem like he was avoiding his mistakes and trying to find excuses for himself.


    but he also didn¡¯t want to make jiang heng angry on his birthday, so he licked his lips and quickly prepared an explanation in his mind.


    ¡°actually¡­ she¡¯s a lesbian,¡± ji yao said nervously. ¡°she has a girlfriend, and they¡¯ve been together for seven years, longer than we have.¡±


    jiang heng¡¯s gaze flickered slightly, and while his expression was still cold, he relaxed his grip on the car door handle slightly.


    ¡°i admit,¡± ji yao said softly, ¡°actually, three years ago¡­ she¡¯s someone i recruited from the campus network.¡±

 CH 57

    in the final days before coming out, the atmosphere in ji yao¡¯s home had reached an all-time low.


    even after moving back home, ji yao couldn¡¯t dispel the suspicions of his father and mother. they seemed to suffer from paranoid delusions, suspecting ji yao of being gay while simultaneously refusing to accept this fact.


    this conflicting emotional turmoil brought about fear and anger, to the point that whenever ji yao spent even half an hour alone in his room with the door closed, his parents would find an opportunity to barge in and check on him.


    ji yao¡¯s father didn¡¯t allow him to lock the door. when he was in a good mood, he would find a reason to bring some fruit. when he was in a bad mood, he would simply kick the door open to see what he was up to.


    after losing trust in ji yao completely, ji¡¯s father felt the need to tightly control his son¡¯s life to find peace.


    during that time, his parents were enthusiastic about arranging blind dates for him. on one particularly extreme day, he met four different girls from morning till evening. ji yao couldn¡¯t understand why his parents had such an extensive network of eligible young women in their social circle. it seemed that no matter how many he met in a day, there were always new ones waiting for him the next day.


    for a while, he even felt like a commodity, showcased by his parents and discussed with various people as if haggling over prices.


    the memories of that time were unbearable and repetitive, and ji yao couldn¡¯t recall the specific details. what he remembered was the suffocating and oppressive feeling, like being slowly submerged in water, not drowning immediately but succumbing to a numb hopelessness.


    ji yao had never left home from childhood to adulthood. to ensure a ¡°stable¡± life for him, his father had chosen the path of pursuing multiple degrees, pursuing a continuous academic journey from bachelor¡¯s to ph.d.


    thus, over the course of his twenty-something years, ji yao had developed a fixed mindset shaped by his environment and life experiences.


    for him at that time, there were only two paths ahead. one was to break up with jiang heng and obediently stay at home, comply with his parents, and gradually rebuild trust. the other was to resolve this matter and make them completely believe it was all a misunderstanding.


    at that time, ji yao had shaken and panicked about his close relationship with jiang heng, but he never wanted to break up with him. so, he subconsciously chose the second option.


    ji yao knew he was a natural-born gay. he never had the slightest attraction to girls, both psychologically and physiologically. he had no intention of hurting any well-intentioned girls from good families.


    but for ji¡¯s parents, it seemed that the only extreme path to quickly prove his sexual orientation was to take this route.


    so ji yao spent sleepless nights at home for three days, finally coming up with a ¡°brilliant¡± idea.


    he anonymously posted a recruitment message on the campus forum.


    the content of his post was ambiguous, but the gist was that he wanted to gather lesbian couples on campus to prepare to ¡°face challenges together.¡±


    ji yao had plenty of gay friends from the gay community, but he had never known any lesbians. so, he had to resort to the campus forum for ideas.


    he didn¡¯t have high hopes for his plan, but three days later, liu mianmian turned out to be the blind cat that had stumbled upon a dead mouse. she took the initiative to add ji yao on wechat.


    ¡°when she first added me, she thought i was a lesbian too,¡± ji yao whispered. ¡°but when she found out i was a guy, she even suspected i was trying to set a trap. it took me a while to convince her i was a good person.¡±


    coincidentally, liu mianmian was facing her own dilemma at the time. she wasn¡¯t at risk of her sexual orientation being discovered, but her parents were very conservative folks who believed that ¡°girls are unwanted after twenty-five.¡± so, they were pushing her to go on blind dates and get married.


    liu mianmian¡¯s father had a history of hypertension, and she didn¡¯t dare to come out and risk upseting her family. she also didn¡¯t want to give up her girlfriend of several years, so she coincidentally became a pair of reluctant partners with ji yao.


    ¡°so later on, i introduced her to my parents, saying i had a girlfriend.¡± ji yao said. ¡°i discussed it with liu mianmian, and we planned to get married first. after the marriage, we could smoothly leave home, and when we graduated, we could divorce. but i ended up regretting it and calling off our engagement and she took this opportunity to cry and threaten to hang herself, saying she had lost faith in men and would commit suicide. her parents believed it, so they didn¡¯t dare to pressure her anymore.¡±


    ¡°about the divorce reason¡­¡± jiang heng asked casually, ¡°you don¡¯t think it¡¯s that simple, do you?¡±


    ji yao had indeed thought about it. at the time, he and liu mianmian had been so serious in fooling their parents that they put as much effort into it as if they were writing a thesis. they carefully planned for all possible questions and how to respond, creating a fabricated ¡°love memorandum¡± that covered every aspect of their relationship.


    a sham marriage was a necessary step, but the divorce was clearly the more critical one. since liu mianmian had agreed to help ji yao, he would voluntarily shoulder the burden of a bad reputation after they divorced.


    ¡°i thought about it,¡± ji yao said, gritting his teeth. he confessed, ¡°i planned to say that i couldn¡¯t perform.¡±


    ¡°is that so?¡± jiang heng raised an eyebrow.


    he¡¯s quite audacious, jiang heng thought.


    according to ji yao¡¯s expectations, his situation could be resolved by getting married. if they were lucky and their parents weren¡¯t too strict, they might not even need to obtain a marriage certificate. just holding a wedding ceremony might be enough to deceive everyone. then he and liu mianmian could go their separate ways. as long as they provided cover for each other regularly, they could divorce when the time was right, and everything would be fine.


    ¡°plus, we had a prenuptial agreement,¡± ji yao whispered. ¡°if we do get married, our divorce agreement will take effect in a maximum of one year.¡±


    ¡°really?¡± jiang heng coolly hooked the corner of his lips, his tone slightly mocking. ¡°i always said you¡¯re the kind of person who would never willingly wear a collar around your neck. you¡¯re clearly an avoidant personality who won¡¯t take responsibility, yet you had the guts to toy with marriage.¡±


    ¡°jiang heng,¡± ji yao interrupted him, looking into his eyes with a serious expression. he asked, ¡°are you jealous?¡±


    jiang heng hesitated for a moment, and a hint of annoyance that had been punctured appeared on his face. his gaze flickered for a moment, avoiding the question.


    ¡°fake marriage, do you know how many legal pitfalls are involved?¡± jiang heng said. ¡°if you encounter someone who knows how to play the game, they¡¯ll ruin you just by divorcing you later.¡±


    ji yao looked at jiang heng¡¯s stubbornness and couldn¡¯t help but smile. he didn¡¯t want to argue with him anymore or mention his ¡°carefully planned¡± scheme.


    because he suddenly realized that those weren¡¯t the things jiang heng wanted to hear.


    perhaps growing up was a process of constantly overturning oneself, ji yao thought suddenly.


    the same thing, in the eyes of 25-year-old ji yao and 29-year-old ji yao, had completely different meanings.


    just as he had never conceived the concept of leaving home in his mind, but when he finally took that step, he realized that independence wasn¡¯t as difficult as he had imagined.


    during the three years away from his hometown, he had transformed himself from a naive person into someone who understood more about the complexities of human relationships through the abrasion of society.


    ji yao hadn¡¯t understood this back then, but only later did he realize how naive he had been.


    ¡°i¡¯m sorry,¡± ji yao said.


    he genuinely wanted to apologize because no matter how ugly things had gotten back then, he was the one who had made the first mistake.


    jiang heng¡¯s eyelashes trembled ever so slightly, and his gaze instinctively shifted slightly, landing on a withered vine outside the car window.


    ¡°¡­it¡¯s all in the past,¡± jiang heng sighed after a moment. the frost on his face melted a bit, and he seemed a bit more lively. ¡°when we¡¯re young, none of us were mature. you made a mistake, and my way of dealing with it was also thoughtless, so let¡¯s not bring up old grudges.¡±


    ji yao acknowledged with a nod, but he pursed his lips, unable to help but ask, ¡°if i had told you back then that i and liu mianmian were just in a fake marriage, would you still have broken up with me?¡±


    ¡°if you had actually gotten married, then yes,¡± jiang heng said quickly.


    ji yao wasn¡¯t surprised by this answer. for jiang heng, many things could be forgiven, but once it touched his bottom line, he wouldn¡¯t budge.


    ji yao couldn¡¯t quite describe his feelings as either disappointment or something else. he nodded and weakly said, ¡°i won¡¯t do it again in the future, i promise.¡±


    jiang heng finally returned his gaze to ji yao. he looked at ji yao, who was so close, and reached out to touch his face.


    ¡°i believe you,¡± jiang heng said. he seemed to have adjusted his mood, and he curved his lips slightly, with a faint upward tilt at the corners. ¡°if i didn¡¯t have confidence in you this time, we wouldn¡¯t be sitting here talking.¡±

 CH 58

    for jiang heng, liu mianmian was never his primary concern.


    if he hadn¡¯t had confidence in ji yao¡¯s sincerity from the beginning, he wouldn¡¯t have rekindled his connection with ji yao, nor would he have allowed the two of them to start anew.


    for jiang heng, as long as ji yao hadn¡¯t been married at the time, they still had a chance to turn back to each other. since the day they decided to attempt reconciliation, jiang heng had stopped caring about what had happened in the past. so, whether there had been a sham marriage or other hidden motives, to jiang heng, it was at best icing on the cake.


    his concerns and worries had never been about the unchangeable past but about ji yao himself.


    jiang heng could see that over these days, ji yao had indeed been making changes.


    facing what he didn¡¯t want to confront, admitting what he didn¡¯t want to admit ¨C he was slowly, steadily moving closer to jiang heng.


    so the resistance in jiang heng¡¯s heart began to show signs of crumbling, and his chest felt full. his adam¡¯s apple rolled up and down for a moment as he struggled to squeeze out a sentence.


    ¡°but¡­ are you really sure¡ª¡± jiang heng asked.


    his sentence was cut off, and ji yao furrowed his brow in confusion, not understanding what jiang heng was trying to ask.


    ¡°what?¡± ji yao inquired.


    jiang heng seemed not to be very good at this. he took a deep breath and said, ¡°i mean, are you¡ª¡±


    before he could finish his sentence, the front door of the house suddenly swung open, and xiaotong peeked her head out, looking at the two of them through the car window with suspicion.


    jiang heng and ji yao both simultaneously caught sight of xiaotong¡¯s figure in their peripheral vision. they were like high school students caught in puppy love, hurriedly releasing each other¡¯s hands.


    xiaotong looked at them for a moment, puzzled. she hadn¡¯t originally planned to disturb them, but she had been watching jiang heng¡¯s car idling for a long time and was afraid they might get sick in the cold, so she had to come out and check.


    ¡°back home for half a day and not getting out of the car, what are you doing?¡± xiaotong asked.


    ¡°ah, we were just discussing something,¡± jiang heng cleared his throat, changing the subject, ¡°mom, didn¡¯t you mention that you wanted to visit the city god temple?¡±


    ¡°oh, right!¡± xiaotong said, ¡°after seeing churches every day abroad, i almost got aesthetic fatigue. i¡¯ve decided to immerse myself in a more local religious experience.¡±


    xiaotong slapped her hand in realization and said, ¡°what about ji yao? why don¡¯t you go with us?¡±


    ¡°why would he go, mom?¡± jiang heng got out of the car and leaned against the door, smiling, ¡°he worked the night shift last night, so let him rest at home.¡±


    jiang heng looked at ji yao, and with a hint of implication, he said, ¡°take good care of the house, and if you want to talk about something, we¡¯ll discuss it when i get back tonight.¡±


    ji yao belatedly caught a hint of something in jiang heng¡¯s words and had a faint sense of self-satisfaction at the corner of his eyes and brows.


    he hadn¡¯t wanted to make the final breakthrough in this hasty atmosphere, and the ¡°birthday gift¡± he had prepared hadn¡¯t arrived yet, so now, anything he said felt lacking in confidence.


    ¡°you go ahead,¡± ji yao smiled, ¡°i¡¯ll wait for you both to come back for dinner tonight.¡±


    ¡°alright then.¡± xiaotong, though a little disappointed, was also afraid ji yao hadn¡¯t had a good rest, so she came over and hugged him, saying, ¡°ji yao, rest well at home, and if you wake up and want to join us, just call xiao heng.¡±


    ¡°i got it, auntie.¡± ji yao smiled.


    after xiaotong and jiang heng left, ji yao wandered around the living room. he was filled with excitement, not feeling sleepy at all. he didn¡¯t have the heart to take a nap.


    with a compulsive urge, he tidied up the entire house and then sat down on the bed, repeatedly checking his phone.


    around 1:30 pm, the lawyer he had contacted the previous night sent ji yao a blank document, just as promised.


    ¡°this is the finalized template; take a look at it carefully,¡± the lawyer said. ¡°if there are any additional clauses, you can add, and then we can notarize it together.¡±


    ¡°got it,¡± ji yao quickly replied. ¡°thank you.¡±


    the people recommended by ge xing were usually reliable, so ji yao carefully reviewed the document and found no issues. he imported it into the computer and printed it out.


    the freshly printed pages were still warm and carried a hint of the smell of ink. ji yao couldn¡¯t resist running his hand over the cover page and neatly placing it inside a plastic folder.


    holding this document, ji yao began to feel a sense of stability. he hadn¡¯t slept all night, and now he finally realized he was tired. so he slid the folder under his pillow and then curled up in bed to get some rest.


    he slept until the evening and was awakened by the sound of light footsteps outside the bedroom door.


    in a half-awake state, ji yao rolled over in bed and squinted at the window, only to realize that it was already dark outside.


    the faint sound of footsteps in the adjacent room, the friction of slippers against the wooden floor, created a rhythmic rustling sound.


    the air was filled with the aroma of food, with a strong scent of black pepper sauce, tinged with a hint of mint, refreshing and invigorating.


    ji yao sat up in bed, reached for his phone to check the time, and discovered it was already past 6 pm.


    jiang heng¡¯s footsteps finally stopped at his door, and after a moment, he reached out and lightly knocked on ji yao¡¯s door.


    ¡°are you awake?¡± jiang heng asked through the closed door.


    ¡°i¡¯m awake!¡± ji yao replied.


    ji yao hadn¡¯t realized that he had slept for so long, and many things were unprepared. so, he hastily straightened out his rumpled sheets and retrieved the prepared document from under the pillow.


    his heart was pounding, a mixture of nervousness before a confession and the excitement of imminent realization.


    he licked his lips, took a deep breath, and then hid the document behind his back, before abruptly opening his bedroom door.


    jiang heng had been back for a while, and he had changed into casual home attire as he leaned against the door. ji yao threw himself at jiang heng, hugging him tightly.


    since the last time their public display of affection had failed in the mall, jiang heng had stopped resisting this level of intimacy. he returned the hug and ruffled ji yao¡¯s messy hair, saying, ¡°let¡¯s go downstairs for dinner. my mom asked me to call you.¡±


    he turned to go downstairs but was surprised when ji yao clung to his waist like a piece of sticky toffee, refusing to let go.


    ¡°happy birthday,¡± ji yao said.


    jiang heng let out a faint smile, jokingly saying, ¡°thank you, thank you.¡±


    ¡°isn¡¯t it too early for dinner?¡± ji yao asked with a suggestive tone. ¡°is there any post-dinner celebration planned?¡±


    jiang heng replied, ¡°what celebration? we¡¯re not children. it¡¯s just a birthday. let¡¯s just have a meal together.¡±


    ¡°that won¡¯t do,¡± ji yao tightened his grip around jiang heng¡¯s waist, withdrew the folder from behind him, and waved it in front of jiang heng, saying, ¡°look, it¡¯s your birthday present.¡±


    jiang heng looked a bit puzzled.


    the folder ji yao used was completely transparent, allowing the contents to be visible without flipping it open. the words ¡°guardianship agreement¡± were printed prominently on a white a4 paper, easy to read at a glance.


    jiang heng suddenly fell silent. he seemed to have added an extra layer of weight on himself, something indistinct but heavy. while his expression remained unchanged, ji yao sensed a shift in the atmosphere.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ji yao couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t speak; he took the document from ji yao, flipped it open, and glanced at it.


    ji yao¡¯s section already had his name and id number signed, while jiang heng¡¯s section was still empty, waiting for him to fill it out.


    this document was only a few pages long, and given jiang heng¡¯s speed in reviewing documents, it would take him less than two minutes to go through it from start to finish.


    at the end of the document, there was jiang heng¡¯s signature in the confirmation section. once jiang heng added his name to his section, they would have a legally binding connection.


    jiang heng¡¯s fingers unconsciously touched that point, gently caressing it.


    jiang heng¡¯s emotions were hard to read; it wasn¡¯t a pure sense of touch nor was there overt joy. it was as if a massive wave had surged within him, yet he didn¡¯t express anything outwardly except for the subtle, uncontrollable atmosphere that filled the quiet room.


    ji yao couldn¡¯t understand his intentions, he was baffled, and felt that something was slipping beyond his control.


    anxious, he finally spoke up, ¡°jiang heng?¡±


    after a long while, jiang heng closed the document and turned to look at ji yao.


    jiang heng had a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his face. he removed ji yao¡¯s arms from around his waist, lifted the folder, and waved it in front of ji yao¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°let me confirm one last time,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°are you really ready?¡±


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong? doesn¡¯t this show my sincerity?¡± ji yao didn¡¯t initially catch his meaning and found it somewhat amusing. he couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°if you¡¯re not confident, we can go to the notary office together tomorrow, how about that?¡±


    ¡°no, what i mean is, are you really prepared to start a family with me?¡± jiang heng emphasized the word ¡®family.¡¯ ¡°not just a romantic relationship but living together from now on, facing the trivialities of life together, including family matters.¡±


    ji yao¡¯s expression changed slightly.


    jiang heng¡¯s words hit a nerve, a vulnerable spot deep within ji yao. jiang heng was undoubtedly the person in this world who understood him the most. he had easily pinpointed the only chink in ji yao¡¯s armor, precisely aiming at ji yao¡¯s greatest fear.


    ¡°do you not trust me?¡± ji yao tried to control his instinctual reaction to the probing words. he took a deep breath, forced himself not to evade the topic, and smiled as casually as possible. ¡°isn¡¯t everything the same as before? i¡¯m giving myself to you, remaining faithful, mutually supporting each other, and then we¡¯ll spend our lives together. isn¡¯t this good enough?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not the same,¡± jiang heng was unusually persistent today, as if he were stubbornly fixated on this issue. he seemed as if he were preparing for war. ¡°i just want a clear statement.¡±


    jiang heng wasn¡¯t looking for a perfect partner, but he was aware that he wasn¡¯t perfect either. what he wanted and cared about was different from ordinary people. it seemed easily attainable, yet it felt distant.


    his demand for a ¡°lifetime¡± had nearly unattainable standards. even after their breakup three years ago, those standards had become even higher.


    ¡°why do you have to dwell on the formality of words?¡± ji yao couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. he took a step back, gazing at jiang heng with an expression that was difficult to comprehend, and he pressed on, ¡°everything now, including legal protection document, isn¡¯t this more meaningful than mere words?¡±


    ji yao didn¡¯t understand. he was afraid of the idea of a formal marriage and the word family, yet he was willing to bypass the one thing he feared the most and give everything to jiang heng. if that was the case, what importance did that mere verbal assurance hold?


    they could clearly continue on without speaking of it, and go on like this for the rest of their lives.


    but jiang heng remained silent. he rolled up the document into a loose cylinder and lightly tapped it in his hand, appearing unresponsive.


    it was as if ji yao had been pushed to the edge. he took a deep breath, transforming the stress-like fear into some unknown anger. ji yao watched jiang heng¡¯s confident stance, and he felt an intense surge of anger, one he couldn¡¯t suppress.


    ever since their reunion, it had been like this. it was as if a line had already been drawn, waiting for him to cross.


    ji yao knew that he had been the one who made more mistakes during their breakup. it was because he had made the wrong choices first that everything else had followed. thus, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to accuse jiang heng, and jiang heng hadn¡¯t brought up their past either.


    ji yao was willing to ignore everything and treat their past as if it didn¡¯t exist, just like jiang heng. but jiang heng had always been so nonchalant, and ji yao couldn¡¯t help but feel other emotions. he knew that jiang heng hadn¡¯t completely let go of his feelings for him, but he didn¡¯t know to what extent.


    ¡°i¡¯ve already explained everything about the past to you,¡± ji yao paced in place, holding his head as if to protect himself. he said with difficulty, ¡°are you still not satisfied?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng said softly. ¡°it¡¯s not about all that. i¡¯m just asking you a simple question.¡±


    ¡°but once emotions turn into family, they lose their meaning and become dull. household chores and squabbles are different from love.¡± ji yao¡¯s emotions suddenly flared up, ¡°what¡¯s the point of it all? it will eventually turn into resentment, constant bickering, and mutual disdain, like a suffocating shackle. what¡¯s the point?¡±


    ¡°you sound like a scumbag saying that,¡± jiang heng chuckled. ¡°all these years, hasn¡¯t anyone slapped you yet?¡±


    ji yao became furious and retorted without restraint, ¡°if no one slapped you when you were changing boyfriends every year, why should i be slapped?¡±


    ¡°indeed, i¡¯m not a good person,¡± jiang heng continued to smile. ¡°but, a yao, if i didn¡¯t understand who you are, i would think you¡¯re going too far with these accusations.¡±


    jiang heng suddenly changed his address, but ji yao, in his anger, didn¡¯t notice.


    ¡°who am i?¡± ji yao bit his lip. ¡°don¡¯t make it sound like i have some sort of ¡®get out of jail free¡¯ card.¡±


    jiang heng quietly looked at him, then after a while, he curled the corner of his lips.


    that nonchalant, perfunctory smile suddenly changed. it became meaningful, even carrying a touch of tenderness.


    ¡°by the way, you¡¯re a bad person,¡± jiang heng said half-sincerely, half-playfully. ¡°you¡¯re a  person who tramples on others¡¯ feelings.¡±


    ¡°since you knew that, you shouldn¡¯t have helped me back then,¡± ji yao said. ¡°so you wouldn¡¯t have to worry about me trampling on your feelings again.¡±


    ¡°why would i be afraid?¡± jiang heng chuckled and said, ¡°i have plenty of genuine and sincere love to give. i¡¯m not afraid of them being wasted.¡±


    ji yao was momentarily stunned, realizing that it was indeed true. jiang heng was like a never-ending spring. as long as he wanted, he could produce fresh, surging, endless love.

 CH 59

    their argument was so loud that xiaotong downstairs could faintly hear it. feeling uneasy, she couldn¡¯t help but come up to check.


    ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± xiaotong stood in the middle of the staircase on the second floor, holding onto the handrail as she looked up at the two of them. ¡°are you two fighting?¡±


    due to his upbringing ji yao never vented his anger at his elders. he took a deep breath and managed to force a smile as he replied, ¡°it¡¯s nothing, auntie. just had a little disagreement.¡±


    xiaotong glanced at their expressions, didn¡¯t say anything, and quickly defused the situation by suggesting, ¡°well then, let¡¯s go downstairs for dinner.¡±


    ji yao nodded, not wanting to argue further with jiang heng in front of xiaotong. so, he said, ¡°shall we go down?¡±


    after their recent argument, jiang heng was afraid that ji yao would feel uncomfortable facing him in front of xiaotong, so he shook his head and made up an excuse about having some work to do, allowing ji yao to go downstairs first.


    ji yao furrowed his brows and was about to say something when xiaotong swiftly interrupted him.


    ¡°he¡¯s busy, let it go. come on, ji yao, let¡¯s go downstairs,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°i just made some golden shrimp balls. would you like to taste one?¡±


    their house was constructed with soundproof bricks, so ji yao wasn¡¯t sure if xiaotong had heard the specifics of their argument. he didn¡¯t want to push it, so he obediently followed xiaotong downstairs.


    the dining table on the first floor was already set with a mix of chinese and western dishes: steak with braised chicken, looking messy but somehow harmonious, reflecting xiaotong¡¯s style.


    xiaotong pulled ji yao to a seat and then picked up a golden shrimp ball from a plate and handed it to him.


    ji yao picked up his chopsticks and hesitated for a moment before setting them down. he couldn¡¯t eat, and his mood wasn¡¯t great. he sighed lightly and apologized, ¡°i¡¯m sorry, auntie.¡±


    regardless of the circumstances, ji yao and jiang heng could settle their disputes privately, but he knew it wasn¡¯t right to argue with jiang heng in front of his mom.


    ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± xiaotong said quietly, watching him. finally, she said, ¡°actually, i can tell that you and xiao heng are not a couple, right?¡±


    ji yao was taken aback, wondering where he had slipped up. had she heard their argument because it was so loud? ji yao thought.


    seemingly aware of what he was thinking, xiaotong smiled faintly and said, ¡°i¡¯ve known for a long time. xiao heng is my child, and i know him well. your interactions are very compatible, but also distant. i guess you broke up, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    at this moment, ji yao finally realized that there was a reason why jiang heng had grown into the person he was today.


    normally, xiaotong appeared carefree and unpredictable, doing things on a whim, but her eyes were bright, and in just a few words, she revealed jiang heng¡¯s character.


    ¡°yes¡­¡± ji yao could only admit, ¡°i¡¯m sorry, auntie, i shouldn¡¯t have lied to you.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± xiaotong shook her head. she picked up a shrimp, removed the shell, and placed it on ji yao¡¯s plate. she spoke gently, ¡°but why did you?¡±


    discussing such topics in front of an elder was obviously uncomfortable, but for some reason, ji yao, looking at xiaotong¡¯s expression, inexplicably confessed.


    he wasn¡¯t good at talking about his own love experiences and stumbled through his story, including how he and jiang heng had met, their dating history, and their breakup.


    xiaotong listened attentively at first, but when ji yao mentioned the ¡°caught him in bed with another person¡± part, she subtly furrowed her brows.


    ¡°ji yao,¡± xiaotong paused and said seriously, ¡°i¡¯m xiao heng¡¯s mother, and you might think i¡¯d be biased towards him, defending him.¡±


    ¡°auntie, that¡¯s not what i¡­.,¡± ji yao quickly said.


    xiaotong shook her head and patted his hand, signaling him to calm down. ¡°it¡¯s a natural reaction, whether you believe it or not. but i want to be fair with you. based on what i know about xiao heng, he would never do something like that.¡±


    ¡°auntie,¡± ji yao said, feeling like he was complaining about jiang heng in front of his own mother. he quickly added, ¡°actually, at that time, he thought we had broken up¡ªfinding someone else after a breakup is normal. looking back, i don¡¯t think it qualifies as cheating.¡±


    ji yao had long been able to view this incident objectively, but xiaotong shook her head, maintaining her strong stance.


    ¡°that wouldn¡¯t happen either,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°considering xiaoheng¡¯s personality, if you hadn¡¯t come back that day, he wouldn¡¯t have done anything with someone else. when he calmed down, his first move would have been to find you and break up.¡±


    ji yao was genuinely puzzled this time. after spending time with xiaotong, he had come to understand her better. she wasn¡¯t someone who blurred the lines between right and wrong, and she rarely made such definitive statements unless she was truly sure of the situation.


    but how could xiaotong be so confident when even jiang heng couldn¡¯t explain the situation himself?


    ¡°why?¡± ji yao couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°because of his father,¡± xiaotong said.


    jiang heng¡¯s father seemed like an absent figure in his life. if it weren¡¯t for xiaotong bringing it up, ji yao might have forgotten that jiang heng even had a father.


    ¡°i and xiaoheng¡¯s father were a young couple who started from scratch together,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°but unfortunately, my judgment was poor, and i chose the wrong person.¡±


    jiang heng¡¯s father, jiang yi, was a poor young man with an average education when xiaotong met him. they fell in love quickly, and despite her father¡¯s objections, xiaotong insisted on marrying him.


    in the first few years of their marriage, they struggled financially, but xiaotong had a broad perspective, and jiang yi was clever. they quickly caught the wave of the times and started their own business.


    when jiang heng was five years old, the jiang family¡¯s business had stabilized and was flourishing. but around the same time, jiang yi began to grow dissatisfied with his monotonous family life with xiaotong, starting to engage in extramarital affairs.


    initially, he had an affair with his female secretary, and later, he became more reckless, even engaging in prostitution. several years later, xiaotong caught him red-handed once.


    xiaotong was a proud woman at heart. she didn¡¯t want to handle her husband¡¯s infidelity like other women by causing a scene and fighting for her husband¡¯s attention. instead, she chose to ignore jiang yi, focusing on her career and paying him no mind.


    in response, jiang yi escalated his behavior, bringing different women home in front of jiang heng.


    at that time, jiang heng was still very young, just starting primary school. initially, he had sternly criticized jiang yi¡¯s behavior, but after jiang yi drunkenly beat him a couple of times and realized that xiaotong didn¡¯t care, he gradually stopped speaking out and silently watched from the sidelines.


    ¡°he resents his father deeply,¡± xiaotong said softly. ¡°ji yao, in fact, xiaoheng was a very mature child. while other kids dreamed of becoming astronauts and scientists, he wanted to study law. do you know why?¡±


    this story was somewhat heavy, and ji yao¡¯s mood worsened. emotionally, he found it difficult to link the weak and helpless child described by xiao tong with the present jiang heng. but rationally, he knew it was all true.


    ¡°why?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°it was for my sake,¡± xiaotong¡¯s eyes grew a bit teary. she let go of ji yao¡¯s hand, averted her gaze, and stared at the silver candlestick on the dining table. ¡°he said at that time that everything was wrong, that his father didn¡¯t deserve forgiveness. so, when he grew up, he wanted to seek justice for me.¡±


    ji yao suddenly remembered li linghua, the woman betrayed and hurt by her partner. he wondered if during that case, jiang heng ever thought about himself.


    ¡°how old was he then?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°fifth grade of elementary school,¡± xiaotong said.


    fifth grade of elementary school meant he was around ten years old, ji yao thought. a child that young, witnessing his own father bringing different women home every day, engaging in various activities in front of him at home¡ªwhat could he possibly have felt?


    his mother refused to come home because of his father¡¯s outrageous behavior, so he was left alone at home, facing an empty house or a father who behaved immorally in various corners of their home.


    ¡°what was jiang heng thinking at that time?¡± ji yao wondered.


    ¡°he was angry, resentful, and felt that everything was wrong,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°but he also felt powerless. no one helped him, and no one listened to him. so, he could only hope for the future, hoping that he could grow up to be a strong and just person.¡±


    in fact, jiang heng had achieved that.


    ¡°so, he wouldn¡¯t do that,¡± xiaotong said softly. ¡°ji yao, believe me. i¡¯m not making excuses for him, but this is truly a shadow that will stay with him for a lifetime. even if he wanted to do something like that, he couldn¡¯t¡ªbecause it would disgust him, and it would remind him of his father.¡±


    ji yao believed xiaotong. she wouldn¡¯t fabricate such a story to defend jiang heng¡¯s image in front of him.


    ji yao himself had experienced pain, so he didn¡¯t view it as an excuse. he knew well what it felt like to have limited choices in life¡ªeverything a person did was shaped by their character and circumstances. many things, when faced with them, were not a matter of free will, and many actions were made ¡°in the heat of the moment.¡±


    for ji yao, he rationally understood that when jiang heng found someone else, he had already assumed they had broken up and it was over. but emotionally, he still remembered the feeling when he entered with the cake that day.


    now, xiaotong provided him with another perspective of the truth. ji yao should have been happy, but when he thought about the underlying reasons, he couldn¡¯t find solace.


    why didn¡¯t jiang heng speak for himself? ji yao suddenly wondered. why didn¡¯t jiang heng ever speak up?


    ¡°actually, over these years, i¡¯ve been feeling guilty,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°i haven¡¯t been a good mother to him. i haven¡¯t shouldered much responsibility, and if i count it carefully, he¡¯s worried more about me.¡±


    xiaotong¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and her voice choked up slightly. it was evident that she had been holding this statement inside her for a long time, only now finding the courage to say it.


    ¡°no¡­no, no, no,¡± ji yao saw her like this, and he felt a bit panicked. he temporarily put aside his own thoughts and hastily grabbed two napkins to give her.


    ¡°he¡­he doesn¡¯t think that way,¡± ji yao insisted. ¡°not long ago, he told me a lot of fun stories about you. he even said that when he was eight years old on his birthday, you accidentally dropped his chocolate cake. he definitely thought that the time he spent with you was joyful. otherwise, how could he remember things from so early?¡±


    ji yao had initially wanted to comfort xiaotong, but it had the opposite effect. xiaotong seemed even more distressed.


    ¡°but¡­ that was the only birthday i spent with him,¡± xiaotong said.

 CH 60

    in xiaotong¡¯s presence, ji yao heard another version of all the stories.


    during their years of dating, ji yao had initially wondered why jiang heng never mentioned his family. at that time, he thought jiang heng was reserved and didn¡¯t want to share too much personal information about himself. however, it wasn¡¯t until today that he realized jiang heng simply had nothing to say.


    xiaotong was a proud woman. when she was young, she defied her parents¡¯ wishes and married jiang yi, which caused a major rift in her family. therefore, no matter how difficult her life became after marriage, she never sought help from her family.


    jiang yi¡¯s family wasn¡¯t well off, so xiaotong had to start from scratch with him. they began by selling odd items at a street stall, then later moved on to dealing with mechanical products. they ran their business during the day and attended social functions in the evening. it took them more than five years to finally establish their own company and achieve stability.


    during those earlier years, jiang heng¡¯s parents were often away, and as a semi-left-behind child, he only saw his parents a few times a year.


    when he was ten years old, his father¡¯s affair was exposed, and he began to behave recklessly without restraint in front of him. the family went through a drastic change overnight.


    he resented his father, and he didn¡¯t want to stay in that changed household. so, the following year, when he entered junior high, he took matters into his own hands and chose to go to a boarding school. he never returned home after that.


    it made sense, ji yao thought. how could parents continuously play with their children¡¯s feelings like that?


    turns out, jiang heng¡¯s selective sharing was everything about his family life.


    ¡°when he was eight years old, the family business was in a period of rapid expansion, and i had just taken on a major case. i had originally wanted to celebrate his birthday with him,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°but at that time, i was immature myself, and i was in a hurry after a day of work without eating. when i got home, i was really hungry and hadn¡¯t had time to prepare a meal, so i cut a piece of his cake and ate it.¡±


    ¡°that day, when he came back from school and couldn¡¯t cut the cake with me, he was almost in tears,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°at that time, i didn¡¯t take it seriously and could only comfort him, saying he had to make do. he was a very obedient child, and he later turned that page.¡±


    ¡°but later on, i realized i shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± xiaotong sighed. ¡°he was just a child, and he didn¡¯t want fancy things or the cake itself¡ªhe just wanted me to be with him on his special day.¡±


    xiaotong¡¯s last sentence was like a needle with fine hairs, piercing ji yao¡¯s heart sharply. his breath hitched, and he felt a painful itch in his chest.


    he remembered the hot spring trip they never went on three years ago and jiang heng¡¯s tone when he talked about his birthday.


    he didn¡¯t express his sadness or disappointment. he just said, ¡°it¡¯s not a big deal.¡±


    jiang heng had undoubtedly been a good child since childhood. he was considerate, mature for his age, and had known how to ¡°put oneself in others¡¯ shoes¡± from a very young age. he understood what his parents were doing when they were away, so he could empathize with their difficulties.


    but ironically, good children often ended up at a disadvantage.


    ji yao hung his head, staring at the golden shrimp ball in front of him, his thoughts a tangled mess. the past and present intertwined, mixed up even more than the shrimp ball before him.


    in fact, ji yao wasn¡¯t a saint. during those difficult days in the past, he occasionally couldn¡¯t help but shift some blame onto jiang heng, wondering why he didn¡¯t confront him when he discovered this issue.


    but now, ji yao suddenly understood. he couldn¡¯t have said it¡ªhis intimate requests had rarely been met from childhood to adulthood. so maybe he simply didn¡¯t know how to express anger and frustration to someone close to him.


    ¡°i thought a couple of missed birthdays were no big deal. we would have plenty of opportunities in the future once the company stabilized. but i didn¡¯t expect to later discover jiang yi¡¯s affair,¡± xiaotong said.


    at that time, she had wanted a divorce in anger, but jiang yi refused. so, xiaotong had to separate from him, planning to file for divorce after the required separation period.


    ¡°we were young and not sensible, we were self-centered in everything we did. during the period when we were running the business, we didn¡¯t go home often,¡± xiaotong said, sighing deeply. ¡°i used to tell jiang heng to understand and that things would get better once we stabilized. he agreed, and later, he followed through. but i didn¡¯t expect that, in the end, this family couldn¡¯t hold together.¡±


    ji yao could see that xiaotong truly regretted it even today.


    but he didn¡¯t know what to say, and he didn¡¯t even know who to blame. a pampered daughter suddenly fell into the dust, and she had to build her future with her own hands, supporting herself and her family. perhaps that alone was already challenging for her, especially considering her young age at marriage and having a child before she fully matured. it didn¡¯t seem surprising.


    in fact, there were countless left-behind children in the world. if jiang yi hadn¡¯t started sleeping around, xiaotong and he would have struggled together for more than ten years, built a stable family, and it would have been a story of hardship followed by sweetness for them.


    but it just happened at the moment of sweetness that everything fell apart.


    ji yao suddenly understood why jiang heng hated his father so much, enough to say, ¡°i¡¯ll never go back to shanghai.¡±


    because to jiang heng, jiang yi was not just a family betrayer but also the one who shattered his hopes.


    afterward, the family fell apart, and xiaotong started drifting. jiang heng officially entered the boarding school, and from then on, he took care of himself. xiaotong felt guilty, so she worked even harder to earn money, hoping to make up for it materially.


    however, the more she wanted to earn money, the busier she became. seeing xiaotong busier, jiang heng didn¡¯t want to trouble her even more, so he handled everything himself, refusing to ask for help.


    jiang heng reported good news without mentioning the bad, always hiding his sadness, anger, and sorrow behind his back, leaving xiaotong with a mature and rational good son.


    but because he didn¡¯t speak, xiaotong believed that this compensatory pattern was correct. thus, they quickly fell into a vicious cycle of caring about each other but being misaligned.


    until he grew up into an adult, transformed into a strong and self-reliant man, he seemed to have truly forged a steel-like character that was immune to harm, a person who could withstand any poison, storm, and who actively persuaded xiaotong to find her new world.


    indeed, ji yao thought.


    if it weren¡¯t for xiaotong, ji yao might never have known these things. his impression of jiang heng¡¯s family would have remained at the light-hearted ¡°fishing in the river and playing pool¡± level. ironically, jiang heng hadn¡¯t lied; he had just shared only half of everything, turning his heavy emotions into casual conversation.


    ji yao suddenly realized that jiang heng might have hidden his emotions so many times over the years that he had given people the impression that he was a different person.


    ¡°i¡¯ve been an irresponsible mother,¡± xiaotong said softly. ¡°i always thought he didn¡¯t need me, not until the winter two years ago when he suddenly came to find me.¡±


    two years ago, ji yao quickly calculated in his mind, that should have been a year after they broke up.


    ¡°at that time, he looked very upset. he drank quite a bit that night and lay on the couch, hugging a cushion and resting it on my lap,¡± xiaotong said.


    at that time, xiaotong had just been married for a whole year, and she missed her son even when she was in a foreign country. when she saw jiang heng suddenly coming, she was overjoyed, and all her attention was focused on him.


    but jiang heng¡¯s mood was uncharacteristically low that night. he had too much to drink, rolled over, and hugged her waist.


    ¡°mom,¡± jiang heng had softly asked, ¡°can i stay with you for a few more days?¡±


    at that time, xiaotong didn¡¯t understand what was going on. she looked at jiang heng in confusion and reached out to stroke his hair.


    ¡°of course, you can stay as long as you want,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°if you¡¯re willing, when you finish school in the uk, come live with us here in france. that would be the best.¡±


    her words seemed to soothe jiang heng, and he mumbled a response, leaning against xiaotong, not saying a word for a long time.


    but that night, unfortunately, in the late hours, amber suddenly developed a high fever. charles didn¡¯t want to disturb their mother-son conversation, so he quietly went to the living room to search for the first-aid kit. however, he wasn¡¯t familiar with its contents, and after a clattering search, he let jiang heng know.


    the next day, jiang heng boarded a train and left, saying he was going to sweden to see the snow.


    at that time, xiaotong still didn¡¯t understand why he had suddenly left. it wasn¡¯t until a week later, while eating at the dining table, that she suddenly realized. it was only then that she discovered jiang heng didn¡¯t think he didn¡¯t need her; he just didn¡¯t want to be a burden to her¡ªeven though xiaotong had never considered him a burden.


    some realizations come in an instant, especially when it¡¯s too late, making the pain even more intense.


    ji yao¡¯s throat tightened, and he didn¡¯t know how he managed to squeeze out the words from his throat: ¡°why did he¡­ suddenly come to find you?¡±


    ¡°i don¡¯t know. maybe he wasn¡¯t in a good mood at the time,¡± xiaotong replied, shaking her head. ¡°it happened to be christmas day, and i thought he came to celebrate our wedding anniversary with charles and me.¡±


    ji yao suddenly understood.


    only today did he have a clear concept¡ªjiang heng had learned and lived everything on his own. he had undergone surgery and celebrated the days by himself, and he had signed the surgical consent forms himself. from the day ji yao met him, it was as if he had emerged from the cracks in a stone.


    he had friends from all over the world but no family.


    he had once tried to consider ji yao as family, but ji yao had let down his trust.


    it turned out that during all those years, among all the choices made by everyone, jiang heng had been the one at a disadvantage, the one who had been abandoned.


    maybe, on that same day, he and xiao tong had abandoned jiang heng.

 CH 61

    ji yao suddenly understood.


    he had thought earlier that jiang heng still didn¡¯t believe in him, and that he still cared about his ¡°past,¡± and deliberately pointed out his greatest fear. despite having all the substantial guarantees, he still cared about that useless verbal promise.


    but now he understood that jiang heng cared about that ¡°verbal promise¡± from the beginning.


    it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t see his actions; quite the opposite. it was precisely because he saw them that he needed this final confirmation.


    ji yao suddenly stood up.


    the dining chair slid back a considerable distance with his movement, emitting a jarring friction sound. xiaotong was startled and instinctively looked up at him.


    ¡°s-sorry, auntie¡­¡± ji yao¡¯s emotions were in turmoil, his gaze drifting around for a moment, and he didn¡¯t dare to meet xiaotong¡¯s eyes. ¡°i want to go upstairs and check on him.¡±


    ¡°go ahead.¡± xiaotong understood and said, ¡°i¡¯ll go to the bathroom and wash my face.¡±


    ji yao nodded absentmindedly, pushed his chair back, and rushed upstairs.


    jiang heng was leaning on the second-floor balcony, smoking. when he heard the heavy footsteps approaching from behind, he was a bit puzzled.


    he instinctively put out the remaining half of his cigarette in the ashtray and turned his head upon hearing the sound.


    ji yao had run up the stairs, his mind in chaos, torn between instinct and emotion, caught in the vortex of confusion, with only one empty thought in his mind.


    in just a few short steps on the staircase, he had broken into a sweat.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t hear what the two of them had said downstairs, and he looked surprised when he saw ji yao.


    ¡°jiang heng.¡± ji yao grasped the stair railing, gazing at him across the small living room. he was slightly panting, his eyes were red, and even his lips trembled.


    ¡°can you please love me forever?¡± ji yao asked.


    when he said these words, ji yao felt as if there was a huge hole in his heart. all the courage he had accumulated throughout his life was visibly draining away through this hole.


    his fingertips were icy cold, and the fear, which had come out of nowhere and for no reason, reached its peak in this moment of his life.


    but perhaps because his legs were weak, or perhaps because his courage had already drained away completely after uttering those words, he didn¡¯t escape this time.


    jiang heng was initially surprised, but he quickly understood what was happening. although ji yao¡¯s words were somewhat unreasonable, jiang heng looked at him and felt as though ji yao had pitied him to the point of pushing himself into a corner.


    he could tell that ji yao just wanted one answer¡ªa response that would allow him to make a clean break.


    like a circus elephant breaking free from its shackles but still wearing ankle cuffs. he wanted a command that would let him grit his teeth and pass through this terrifying ring of fire in front of him.


    so, jiang heng gave him that command.


    ¡°i can,¡± jiang heng said.


    the next moment, ji yao suddenly pounced on him, kissing him passionately.


    this time, jiang heng didn¡¯t refuse. he embraced ji yao, loosened his grip on his lips, and accepted him.


    in that intimate moment, all their long-dormant senses came alive again in an instant, and the missing pieces returned to their bodies, igniting a roaring fire.


    it felt both familiar and unfamiliar, as if they had been separated for millions of years, yet their souls still bore the imprints of each other.


    jiang heng engaged in a long kiss with ji yao, who resembled a moth darting into the flames, almost madly kissing him.


    his teeth grazed jiang heng¡¯s lip, and warm liquid trickled down from somewhere. jiang heng¡¯s tongue tasted a hint of saltiness and bitterness, as if he had tasted ji yao¡¯s heart.


    ¡°i love you,¡± ji yao said. ¡°i will love you forever.¡±


    ¡°i know,¡± jiang heng sighed deeply. he held ji yao tightly, pressing him into his embrace. ¡°i believe you.¡±


    jiang heng had always known that, for ji yao, love or not wasn¡¯t the obstacle. ji yao could readily give his love, but what he couldn¡¯t face was family, longevity, and long term commitment.


    so, he never doubted whether their love for each other was enough to start over. what he cared about was whether ji yao was prepared to face everything he feared but would inevitably have to face.


    for jiang heng, choosing the most foolish way to resolve this matter today was deliberate.


    ji yao was someone with a soft spot for intimacy, and if jiang heng had wanted to, he had a thousand ways to gradually erode ji yao¡¯s bottom line without touching his pain points, ultimately gaining everything he desired.


    but he didn¡¯t do that.


    because in jiang heng¡¯s eyes, ji yao was free. regardless of whether his choices were mature or perfect, he had the right to decide his own life.


    so, jiang heng wanted to give ji yao the choice, rather than have him stumble onto another path in confusion.


    ¡°¡­how did you know?¡± ji yao said. ¡°we¡¯ve been together for so long, and i have never said these words to you.¡±


    ¡°when i was in the hospital, you passed by eight times a day to check up on me. was i a fool not to know?¡± jiang heng suddenly smiled, reaching out to wipe the sweat from ji yao¡¯s forehead. he said softly, ¡°i could tell. the look in your eyes was the same as three years ago.¡±


    so, he was sure that ji yao still had him in his heart, even more so than three years ago.


    that kiss seemed to wipe away all the frost on jiang heng¡¯s body. his brows and eyes softened, his eyes filled with a sparkling light, gentle and accommodating. he seemed to know everything and yet had said nothing.


    ¡°why didn¡¯t you say it earlier?¡± ji yao raised his head, cupping jiang heng¡¯s face and looking deep into his eyes. ¡°you could have pulled me in any direction, and i would definitely go with you.¡±


    ¡°that won¡¯t do.¡± jiang heng smiled, hooking the corner of his lips. ¡°i had to wait for you.¡±


    jiang heng didn¡¯t want to take advantage of ji yao¡¯s guilt to rush in. he genuinely wanted to wait for ji yao to reach this point, just one step away from the finish line.


    so, he maintained the boundary of their relationship almost strictly, not because he still harbored any resentment but because he was doing it for ji yao.


    ¡°i have the right to decide who i spend the rest of my life with, and so do you,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°you love me, but you also have the right to refuse. don¡¯t give up all the initiative in your emotions just because of past mistakes.¡±


    ji yao looked into his eyes and suddenly realized that what jiang heng cared about most was not the pursuit, not the flowers, not even the attitude of admitting wrongs, but if ji yao could take the initiative to come to him.


    from the moment he decided to reconcile, jiang heng had completely let go of the past. he was a person with absolute rationality, and when he realized that he wanted to give it another try with ji yao, he had already digested all those past issues.


    once they decided to start anew, the past became meaningless. no matter how messy or absurd those things were, they were in the past, not worth worrying about or dwelling upon.


    he had clear principles, firm positions, and two completely different sets of standards for ¡°falling in love¡± and ¡°reconciliation.¡± that¡¯s why he was being so strict this time. jiang heng could walk his own path, but he would not help ji yao on the path he needed to take. he would only stand at the finish line, waiting for ji yao to reach him or give up midway.


    yet, he continued to look at ji yao, never leaving, serving as an endless source of courage for ji yao.


    then, at the moment ji yao rushed past the finish line, jiang heng would catch him.


    just like now.

 CH 62

    perhaps knowing that ji yao and jiang heng had something to discuss, xiaotong considerately didn¡¯t rush them to come downstairs for dinner.


    ji yao held onto jiang heng tightly, as if he were clutching a piece of driftwood in the river of life.


    it took him a long time to recover from the initial resistance that was driving him crazy, and he hung limp in jiang heng¡¯s arms.


    jiang heng leaned against the balcony railing, embracing ji yao¡¯s waist and supporting him, continuously sharing their body heat.


    after what felt like an eternity, ji yao finally laid his head gently on jiang heng¡¯s shoulder and tightened his arms around him.


    ¡°do you know my parents?¡± ji yao spoke softly.


    jiang heng nodded.


    during the three years of their initial relationship, ji yao¡¯s parents¡¯ names had been mentioned numerous times to jiang heng ¨C a highly educated family, a scholarly background, a match made in heaven, and even free love. they should have been a perfect couple, but the family atmosphere was terrible, as if they could never find happiness together, and ji yao suffered as a result.


    ¡°they actually had a very good relationship at first,¡± ji yao said. ¡°my mom wasn¡¯t that strict from the beginning.¡±


    when he was a child, ji yao had seen old photo albums of his parents, and during new year celebrations, he had heard his relatives talk about their early days.


    it was said that they originally met through mutual friends, but once they saw each other, they fell in love at first sight and quickly entered into a relationship.


    ji yao¡¯s father admired ji yao¡¯s mother for her straightforwardness, and ji yao¡¯s mother was charmed by ji yao¡¯s father¡¯s stability and responsibility, so they quickly fell in love.


    their good educational backgrounds made their conversations broad and diverse. ji yao¡¯s father was a knowledgeable man, and no matter what topic they discussed, he could offer unique insights within his field. when ji yao¡¯s mother occasionally mentioned those days to ji yao, she had once described ji yao¡¯s father as her ¡°soulmate.¡±


    ¡°at that time, they had compatible education levels, stable jobs, so they got married quickly,¡± ji yao said.


    ji yao¡¯s mother initially believed that marriage would mark the beginning of a new and happy life, but soon after, she gradually discovered that ji yao¡¯s father wasn¡¯t exactly the man she had thought he was.


    marriage is a process of adjusting to each other, and during the dating phase, both individuals have enough time and space to present their best selves. however, after getting married, personal space disappears, replaced entirely by family time, and it becomes difficult for them to consider each other¡¯s feelings when all the emotions are directed towards each other.


    ji yao¡¯s father was a typical traditional man who didn¡¯t put enough emphasis on family and his wife. he lived a very self-centered life. after the initial passion faded, he preferred to remember all the types and specifications of fish food instead of recalling to buy salt on his way home.


    the stark contrast between the passion of love and the reality of marriage took a toll on ji yao¡¯s mother. she attempted to make her husband invest more effort into her and their family, but every attempt failed.


    ji yao¡¯s father could never remember the things ji yao¡¯s mother asked him to bring, turning off lights, or even taking out the trash when going downstairs.


    he always said ¡°yes¡± but then continued doing his own thing, ignoring her.


    these were all very, very trivial matters, but accumulated over the years, they became the straws that broke the camel¡¯s back.


    ji yao¡¯s mother was a strong-willed person, and her feelings and responsibility towards the family became imbalanced due to this long-term erosion. she couldn¡¯t accept ji yao¡¯s father¡¯s negligence and indifference, so she began setting strict ¡°family rules¡± to prove her existence.


    ¡°after she established these rules, whenever my dad broke them, my mom would explode in anger,¡± ji yao said. ¡°but it was useless. my dad could never remember. he wouldn¡¯t even argue with my mom; he¡¯d just say, ¡®you¡¯re becoming more and more neurotic,¡¯ and then he¡¯d walk away, waiting for the next time to make the same mistake.¡±


    no one is naturally ¡°neurotic.¡± perhaps it was in the repeated situations where her anger was ignored that ji yao¡¯s mother transformed into the extreme character she had become.


    ¡°didn¡¯t they consider getting divorced?¡± jiang heng asked.


    maybe influenced by xiaotong, jiang heng¡¯s first reaction was to cut his losses.


    ji yao shook his head and said with a bitter smile, ¡°divorce? on what grounds? my dad doesn¡¯t smoke or drink, he comes home after work, doesn¡¯t gamble or visit brothels. everyone praises him as a good man. with this image, how can my mom get a divorce? not only can¡¯t she get a divorce, she has to act like a loving couple in front of others.¡±


    in ji yao¡¯s fuzzy memory, not long after he started elementary school, his mother had once gathered the courage to threaten divorce.


    but it didn¡¯t work out in the end.


    because her reasons were all considered ¡°trivial¡± and she was accused of wanting to divorce just because ¡°the good days had been enjoyed enough.¡± so, her idea of divorce received no support from anyone and she was severely scolded by ji yao¡¯s grandfather.


    after that, ji yao¡¯s mother never mentioned it again.


    after the final struggle, the atmosphere in their family slid into a deep abyss of mutual torment. ji yao¡¯s mother couldn¡¯t convince herself to become a purely submissive wife and mother, ignoring everything about her husband. still, he couldn¡¯t change anything either. therefore, she ended up becoming what she was now.


    she tried to establish her presence through various strict ¡°family rules,¡± but besides ji yao, who was increasingly ensnared by these rules, it seemed to have no effect.


    ¡°many times, i wanted to rebel, but i couldn¡¯t,¡± ji yao said. ¡°my dad had already hurt her. should i also hurt her just like my dad?¡±


    rebelling against his mother would have been simple if she were a control freak. he could have easily resisted her, argued with her, and rejected her unreasonable demands without worrying about hurting her. but she wasn¡¯t like that.


    when ji yao was very young, his mother had been a very kind mother. she would tell him stories and step in to mediate when ji yao¡¯s father scolded him without reason.


    because ji yao knew how his mother had gradually changed into what she was now, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to rebel or blame her.


    a victim couldn¡¯t blame another victim, so he had to bear all the family¡¯s harm by himself.


    jiang heng sighed deeply and held ji yao tighter.


    the sky had grown dark, and the temperature had silently dropped a few degrees. jiang heng, leaning against the railing, shielded ji yao from most of the cold wind.


    he wanted to comfort ji yao with a few words, but when he opened his mouth, nothing came out. family matters were so private, and others¡¯ casual comments couldn¡¯t heal the wounds or bring solace.


    ¡°i love you,¡± jiang heng finally said. ¡°you don¡¯t have to be afraid. i will love you forever.¡±


    ¡°i know,¡± ji yao said. ¡°i have never doubted that from you.¡±


    after breaking up with jiang heng, ji yao had considered starting over with other people, but he hadn¡¯t succeeded.


    in this world, there seemed to be no one like jiang heng, who could selflessly spread love as if it were an endless resource, as if it had no end.


    ji yao didn¡¯t believe baseless promises. under the influence of dopamine, people could easily make promises they couldn¡¯t keep. such promises lacked credibility.


    but jiang heng was an exception.


    because he had experienced that endless love during his previous relationship with jiang heng, ji yao knew that when jiang heng said it, he truly meant it.

 CH 63

    the warmth of a loved one can help each other through hardships and obstacles, but it may not withstand the cold winter wind.


    perhaps he had stood on the open balcony for too long. jiang heng¡¯s stomach began to protest, causing a slight, nagging pain.


    it wasn¡¯t too serious, but it was bothersome.


    jiang heng furrowed his brows, took a deep breath, and was about to adjust his posture when ji yao noticed.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°my stomach hurts a bit,¡± jiang heng admitted.


    he usually didn¡¯t deliberately go against his own body unless there were more important things to do at the same time. facing the freshly minted ¡°boyfriend,¡± jiang heng felt no need to hide his physical condition.


    upon hearing this, ji yao furrowed his brow, examined him for a moment, and looked concerned.


    ¡°you¡¯re dressed too lightly, not warm enough, and shouldn¡¯t be exposed to the cold wind,¡± ji yao seemed to switch to a certain work mode as if a switch had been flipped. without any hesitation, he grabbed jiang heng¡¯s arm and led him into the bedroom.


    ¡°lie down on the bed for a while,¡± ji yao suggested. ¡°is it very painful?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not that severe,¡± jiang heng replied helplessly as ji yao tucked him into the covers. he peeked out from under the blanket, half of his face exposed, and said with a wry smile, ¡°i¡¯ll just go downstairs and have a few sips of hot water¡ªit might be because i haven¡¯t eaten?¡±


    ¡°if your stomach is in pain, don¡¯t eat randomly,¡± ji yao, with some subtle professional instincts, gently touched jiang heng¡¯s forehead to check for any abnormal temperature. finding nothing unusual, he lifted the blanket and reached inside, touching jiang heng¡¯s upper abdomen through his clothes.


    ¡°does it hurt here?¡± ji yao asked.


    jiang heng wasn¡¯t sure exactly where ji yao¡¯s finger was pressing, but he drew in a cold breath and nodded.


    there are many complications associated with gastric ulcers, and without proper care, they could worsen. jiang heng had a history of gastric bleeding a few months ago, and ji yao didn¡¯t want to take any chances.


    without further ado, he tucked jiang heng in properly and then straightened up. almost instinctively, he adopted an air of authority, saying, ¡°i¡¯ll go find something easy to digest for you. don¡¯t move.¡±


    the aura of a boyfriend and that of a doctor were entirely different. the patient clearly didn¡¯t dare to provoke ji yao recklessly and could only obediently agree.


    downstairs in the dining room, most of the dishes on the table had already cooled. xiaotong had been waiting at the table for a long time, and when she finally saw ji yao coming downstairs, her eyes lit up.


    ¡°where¡¯s xiaoheng?¡± xiaotong glanced behind ji yao and asked, puzzled. ¡°isn¡¯t he coming down?¡±


    ¡°he has a stomachache,¡± ji yao explained. ¡°eating a full meal during an ulcer flare-up might make it worse. i¡¯m going to find something else for him.¡±


    ¡°a stomachache?¡± xiaotong looked visibly puzzled and asked, ¡°why would he suddenly have a stomachache?¡±


    ji yao hadn¡¯t expected that jiang heng hadn¡¯t told xiaotong anything about his previous condition and was momentarily taken aback.


    ¡°¡­he¡¯s had stomach issues for a while,¡± ji yao thought for a moment and decided to respect jiang heng¡¯s privacy. he didn¡¯t mention jiang heng¡¯s surgery but picked a less intrusive explanation, saying, ¡°it¡¯s normal for lawyers due to the strict schedule and not finding time to eat; many in the field experience it to some extent.¡±


    xiaotong furrowed her brow slightly, clearly taken aback by this news. she continued to inquire, ¡°do you need any help? like getting something for him?¡±


    ji yao wasn¡¯t good at dealing with family members at home, but he was skilled in dealing with patients¡¯ relatives. so at this moment, he oddly understood xiaotong¡¯s intentions from another perspective.


    she felt guilty and wanted to do everything she could to make amends in some way.


    ¡°well, could you help make something easy to digest?¡± ji yao smiled, a bit embarrassed, and said, ¡°my cooking skills aren¡¯t that great.¡±


    ¡°is sponge cake okay?¡± xiaotong¡¯s eyes lit up as if she was genuinely pleased to be of assistance. ¡°he used to like it when he was younger.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s fine,¡± ji yao smiled and said, ¡°just go easy on the salt.¡±


    it was clear that jiang heng didn¡¯t usually seek xiaotong¡¯s help or comfort proactively. therefore, even for such a small matter, xiaotong was quite enthusiastic to be of help.


    the kitchen was small and could only accommodate two or three people at a time. ji yao leaned against the sink, waiting for the hot water while watching xiaotong deftly crack eggs and prepare the cake batter.


    perhaps influenced by the first impression, ji yao had initially thought xiaotong might be a pampered young lady who had never done housework. however, he was surprised to see her handling household chores so skillfully.


    as the temperature on the water heater slowly climbed to 43 degrees, xiaotong had already placed the porcelain bowl inside the steamer. after setting the timer, she wiped her hands on a paper towel and smiled somewhat sheepishly at ji yao.


    ¡°take it out in five minutes,¡± xiaotong instructed. ¡°after that, i¡¯ll leave the rest to you ji yao.¡±


    ¡°hmm?¡± ji yao was a bit surprised. he thought that given xiaotong¡¯s current feelings toward jiang heng, she might want to take care of him personally.


    ¡°auntie, aren¡¯t you going upstairs?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°i¡¯ll wait until he feels better,¡± xiaotong said softly. ¡°otherwise, he¡¯ll try to put on a brave face in front of me so as not to let me worry.¡±


    indeed, ji yao thought.


    in this respect, jiang heng and xiaotong had a mother-and-son-like demeanor, seemingly guarding against some unnamed worries, both trying their best to present their best selves to each other.


    ji yao didn¡¯t know if they genuinely had each other¡¯s best interests at heart or if they had been apart for so long that they lacked the courage to confide in each other. in any case, they both clearly understood each other and knew that life couldn¡¯t always be smooth and easy. despite that, they continued to make an effort to maintain their perfect facade.


    ¡°well then,¡± ji yao sighed and assured her, ¡°i¡¯ll take good care of him.¡±


    xiaotong nodded, her gaze soft as she looked at him for a moment. in the end, she didn¡¯t say anything and quietly returned to her room.


    the lavish spread of dishes on the dining table, with a mix of western and chinese cuisine, had now completely cooled. ji yao looked around and, after a moment¡¯s thought, decided not to let it all go to waste. he peeled two shrimp balls, removed the shrimp from the crispy shells, and added them to the sponge cake.


    as ji yao headed upstairs, jiang heng was nestled under the soft, fluffy covers, looking somewhat drowsy. he had gotten up early that day and spent the day with xiaotong, so he was now quite tired. he had dozed off for a while and was half-awake, half-asleep as he looked towards the bedroom door.


    when ji yao walked to the bedside and took jiang heng¡¯s hand, placing the homemade ¡°warm pack¡± into his embrace, he helped him sit up.


    when they had packed their bags to come here, they hadn¡¯t expected this turn of events, so they didn¡¯t have everything they needed. therefore, ji yao temporarily used a common method from the hospital¡¯s inpatient department. he filled a bottle with hot water and wrapped it in a thick, dry towel. the temperature was just right.


    jiang heng was startled by ji yao¡¯s movements and woke up from his drowsy state. he blinked his eyes.


    ¡°would you like to eat something?¡± ji yao held up the bowl of sponge cake and gestured. he scooped up a spoonful, tapped it with his lips to test the temperature, and then fed it to jiang heng.


    jiang heng recognized the taste of xiaotong¡¯s cooking after just a small taste. ji yao noticed that he hesitated for a moment but then continued to eat calmly.


    ji yao could see that jiang heng and xiaotong¡¯s relationship was anything but normal, so he hesitated for a moment and told jiang heng about what had happened downstairs.


    he didn¡¯t dare to reveal everything, so he carefully chose his words. however, jiang heng¡¯s ability to read between the lines was impressive, and he immediately guessed what ji yao wanted to say.


    so jiang heng tilted his head slightly, avoiding the next spoonful of sponge cake and gently pushed ji yao¡¯s wrist, indicating that he should also take a bite.


    ¡°i know she still feels guilty after all this time,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°but firstly, those things are in the past, and secondly, i don¡¯t hold any grudges against her, so there¡¯s no need for that. just let her know that i¡¯m doing better.¡±


    ¡°but you can¡¯t keep everything to yourself,¡± ji yao said softly. ¡°otherwise, when she finds out on her own, won¡¯t she be even more upset?¡±


    ji yao paused for a moment, seeming to think of himself from xiaotong¡¯s perspective. his expression became somewhat pouty.


    ¡°¡­and me,¡± ji yao said. ¡°you don¡¯t talk to me either.¡±


    jiang heng hadn¡¯t figured out how to respond to the previous statement, and he suddenly felt that this conversation had taken a turn toward himself. he was puzzled.


    ¡°what?¡± jiang heng asked.


    ¡°auntie told me about your family situation,¡± ji yao said. ¡°three years ago, during that christmas¡­¡±


    ji yao stopped there, unsure of how to continue.


    he really wanted to ask jiang heng why he hadn¡¯t mentioned xiaotong¡¯s marriage at the time and why he hadn¡¯t explained anything afterwards. he could have said that he had been under stress and had drunk alcohol, leading to a momentary lapse in judgment.


    but at that time, they couldn¡¯t have the open and honest communication they now enjoyed.


    so in the end, ji yao could only compromise and ask, ¡°why didn¡¯t you explain afterward? actually, you didn¡¯t really intend to sleep with that stranger, did you?¡±


    years later, bringing up this topic again, jiang heng appeared much calmer. he smiled and readily admitted.


    ¡°i didn¡¯t want to,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°actually, in the time before you came back, i was in a constant battle with myself, trying to drive him away but also feeling reluctant.¡±


    in fact, at that time, jiang heng had reached his breaking point. even if he had told himself that he and ji yao were over, he couldn¡¯t get past that mental hurdle. every time he closed his eyes, he would think of his father and felt that taking that step would turn him into someone like him.


    if ji yao had returned just ten minutes later, jiang heng might have already resolved the matter on his own.


    but fate had other plans, and ji yao happened to return at that precise moment.


    ¡°why didn¡¯t you say anything then?¡± ji yao placed the bowl on the bedside table and came around to hug jiang heng from behind, asking in a muffled voice. ¡°when i asked you about it at qingbo¡¯s, you didn¡¯t say anything either. if auntie hadn¡¯t told me about your situation, were you planning to carry that almost-cheating label forever?¡±


    ¡°because there wasn¡¯t much to explain,¡± jiang heng said nonchalantly. ¡°the situation is what it is, and since it had already happened, the reasons behind it weren¡¯t that important anymore.¡±


    ji yao had a vague feeling that something about this logic didn¡¯t quite add up, but at the same time, he felt like it made sense. he was subtly drawn into jiang heng¡¯s perspective.


    ¡°but,¡± jiang heng continued, ¡°i¡¯ve been carrying this on my mind the whole time.¡±


    ¡°sorry, ji yao,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°no matter what i was thinking at the time, i should have broken up with you first before arranging to meet someone else.¡±


    ¡°if you went ahead and broke up with me at that time, would we still be back together now?¡± ji yao couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng replied.


    for him, when something was over, it was over. if he had already decisively ended things, there would be no possibility of turning back.


    ¡°then it¡¯s a good thing you didn¡¯t say it,¡± ji yao couldn¡¯t help but feel a subtle sense of relief, even though this thought seemed a bit off. ¡°it seems that immaturity has its benefits.¡±


    jiang heng hadn¡¯t expected ji yao to focus on this point, and he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°alright,¡± after a moment, jiang heng shook his head and smiled helplessly. ¡°since my attempt at a casual fling failed, and your marriage was canceled, let¡¯s call it even. how about we clear our sentences?¡±


    ¡°what do you mean by clearing our sentences?¡± ji yao asked.

 CH 64

    as the saying goes, life begins at thirty. on his thirtieth birthday, jiang heng once again reunited with his long-lost lover.


    ji yao gazed deeply at him for a moment, his eyes filled with overwhelming emotions.


    ¡°i really want to kiss you,¡± ji yao said.


    jiang heng smiled and replied suggestively, ¡°you don¡¯t need my permission to do that now.¡±


    without further discussion, ji yao acted decisively and kissed him passionately.


    jiang heng¡¯s lips were slightly cool, and ji yao lightly nibbled on jiang heng¡¯s lower lip.


    jiang heng let out a soft sound of pain but couldn¡¯t help but smile. the warmth of their intimacy was soothing, easing the discomfort from his stomachache and allowing him to focus on his boyfriend.


    in their intimate moments, ji yao was often the one who couldn¡¯t contain himself.


    having developed certain habits throughout his life, ji yao couldn¡¯t easily change them. he often involuntarily displayed his assertiveness.


    jiang heng rarely engaged in direct conflict with him, instead, he mostly adopted an indulgent attitude, guiding ji yao to follow his pace in a gentle, flowing manner.


    ¡°easy now,¡± jiang heng muttered with a smile. ¡°how will you explain it if you leave any marks?¡±


    ji yao didn¡¯t respond verbally; instead, he pushed jiang heng down onto the bed and deepened their kiss.


    the temperature beneath the blanket had become unbearably high, and ji yao felt sweat forming on his back. their close contact made it difficult to breathe, and every breath seemed to carry a hint of heat.


    the soft fabric blocked most of the light, and for a moment, ji yao felt like the entire world had shrunk down to just him and jiang heng.


    he could even hear the irregular, rapid heartbeat beneath their intertwined lips.


    he wanted to tease jiang heng about how he was not as composed as he appeared, but before he could utter a word, he realized that their heartbeats were entangled, making it impossible to distinguish whose rhythm had faltered first.


    reuniting again and being able to face each other without reservation was a wonderful feeling. ji yao couldn¡¯t help but wish that they could continue kissing forever if it weren¡¯t for the lack of oxygen.


    ¡°that¡¯s enough,¡± jiang heng finally said.


    ji yao had a stubborn personality and didn¡¯t like to back down. he nibbled jiang heng¡¯s lips further and ended the kiss forcefully.


    jiang heng¡¯s lips were slightly numb, and ji yao didn¡¯t seem entirely satisfied. he used his tongue to trace the outline of jiang heng¡¯s lips and left a wet sensation.


    jiang heng had enough for now, and ji yao could sense that if he continued, jiang heng might not be able to control himself.


    however, ji yao had other ideas. he moved under the blanket, caressing jiang heng in an unexpected way.


    ¡°what are you doing?¡± jiang heng asked, struggling to maintain his composure.


    but ji yao seemed determined to use their intimate connection to break down the barriers between them. he didn¡¯t stop, continuing his actions.


    jiang heng¡¯s back tensed, and he made an instinctive attempt to push ji yao away, but ji yao held him back firmly.


    ¡°ji yao,¡± jiang heng gritted his teeth and said, ¡°stop.¡±


    he tried to maintain his composure and resist ji yao¡¯s advances, but ji yao¡¯s persistence was testing his limits.


    however, ji yao didn¡¯t relent. he held jiang heng¡¯s shoulder and pushed the blanket aside, exposing him to the cool air. jiang heng shivered as he was met with the chilly atmosphere.


    this time, jiang heng abandoned his polite demeanor. he clutched ji yao¡¯s shoulder with his free hand and, with a sudden surge of strength, flipped ji yao over.


    before ji yao could react, he found himself pinned down by jiang heng, who was now lying on top of him.


    ji yao had wrapped himself entirely in the warmth of the blanket, and jiang heng¡¯s body was pressed closely against him. they could feel each other¡¯s body heat even through the layers of fabric.


    ji yao¡¯s wrists were held by jiang heng¡¯s strong grip, and he raised them above the warm cocoon of the blanket. when the cool air outside the blanket touched his skin, he couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    ¡°you¡ª¡±


    ¡°you wanted this,¡± jiang heng¡¯s arms circled ji yao¡¯s waist and moved to the front, stopping him. ¡°let me help you.¡±

 CH 65

    ji yao always felt that jiang heng was a person with some subtle quirks.


    he had a bit of possessiveness deep down, which wasn¡¯t evident most of the time. it could only be glimpsed when their skin was in close contact¡ª for instance, during intimate moments, he would always control ji yao¡¯s movements under his own command.


    initially, ji yao thought he was just dominant, but now he realized, perhaps, it was more about insecurity.


    with one hand, jiang heng held ji yao¡¯s wrist and, in one smooth motion, pressed against his back. his fingertips subconsciously grazed ji yao¡¯s slender wrist bone as he tilted his head and kissed his neck.


    goosebumps formed on ji yao¡¯s back instantly. he was sensitive, and after sharing a bed with jiang heng for three years, they were familiar with each other¡¯s breath and body. his breath grew heavy almost immediately.


    jiang heng gently nibbled on ji yao¡¯s earlobe, teasingly.


    ji yao let out a soft gasp and immediately felt weak in the waist. he wanted to resist, but this position made it difficult. both of his arms were pulled up by jiang heng, and only his shoulders were against the bed. jiang heng pressed him down tightly, making it challenging to oppose his strength.


    jiang heng¡¯s warm tongue lingered at his earlobe for a while. his cool fingers skillfully lifted ji yao¡¯s shirt, slid inside his pajama pants, and rubbed inside him.


    ji yao took a sharp intake of breath. he tried to squirm but accidentally ended up pressing closer to jiang heng.


    ¡°a yao,¡± jiang heng licked his earlobe and whispered, ¡°you didn¡¯t even close the door.¡±


    ji yao¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he struggled to sneak a glance at the door. he realized that he had rushed in and forgotten to close it.


    jiang heng¡¯s bedroom door was wide open, and the staircase was nearby. from this angle, they could vaguely see the lights in the living room downstairs.


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    he immediately became nervous, his body and mind in a highly excited state. jiang heng¡¯s casual comment had triggered thoughts of the worst-case scenario. being affectionate in front of elders was clearly not a good situation, and ji yao was so anxious that he couldn¡¯t control his trembling body.


    ji yao¡¯s heart pounded rapidly, and he bit his lip, attempting to speak softly, ¡°can you let go of me¡­your mom might see us.¡±


    jiang heng whispered, ¡°should i really let go?¡±


    he said that, but there was no sincerity as he continued to rub harder. ji yao squirmed uncomfortably, and his waist arched slightly.


    amidst the chaos, the hot water bottle in the bed rolled off the edge, and the bottle containing hot water burst open. scalding hot water spilled out, soaking the fabric around it.


    the sound of dripping water echoed as water droplets fell gradually from the bottle¡¯s mouth. the water stain slowly spread, dampening the floor with a dark mark.


    after a while, the moans inside the blanket gradually subsided, and a hand reached out from within, casually searching on the bedside table and pulling out two tissues.


    ji yao had been enclosed in the blanket for a long time, sweating profusely, and his pajamas were stuck to his body. strands of hair clung to his face, making him look somewhat pitiful.


    jiang heng used the tissues to wipe away the sticky liquid on ji yao¡¯s body, smiling as he leaned in to hug him.


    ¡°how was it? did i do good?¡± jiang heng asked softly.


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ji yao was exhausted and he found himself feeling as if he had been deep-fried in a pan, his whole body tingling, even his fingertips had a numb sensation, and his breath carried a spicy scent.


    on the other hand, jiang heng was still impeccably dressed and appeared refreshed.


    ¡°ugh,¡± ji yao lightly spat out, his voice hoarse, ¡°imagine your mom walked in on this?¡­you should be careful¡±


    jiang heng found ji yao nervousness amusing, chuckled, and took a sip of water from the glass on the bedside table before leaning down to offer ji yao a drink.


    ¡°why so unhappy?¡± jiang heng gently kissed the corner of his lips and asked with a smile, ¡°i thought you were quite eager.¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°i am eager,¡± ji yao muttered through gritted teeth, ¡°it¡¯s been a while since i¡¯ve had the chance to sleep with you.¡±


    ¡°alright,¡± jiang heng said good-naturedly, ¡°do you want to make a bet on what we should do next then?¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ji yao involuntarily recalled the outcome of the last ¡°bet,¡± and a tiny electric current seemed to shoot up his spine. his entire body jolted, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak.


    no, he thought. what if he lost the bet again? the price would be difficult to bear.


    ji yao held his breath, turned his head reluctantly, and awkwardly peeked out from under the blanket.


    he finally managed to take a breath of cool, fresh air, feeling utterly relaxed and devoid of strength.


    jiang heng lifted the blanket off the bed, taking some of the warmth with it. went downstairs and quickly returned, carrying a cup of warm sweet milk.


    with little energy left, ji yao shifted closer to him.


    intimacy seemed to be the best way to dispel any distance between them. jiang heng had a gentle expression, appearing as warm as a spring breeze. he seemed soft and calm, like the water in a spring pond. the feeling of their skin touching each other seemed to naturally provide a sense of security. even without doing anything, sharing their warmth and secrets was comforting. ji yao relaxed and nestled in jiang heng¡¯s arms, letting out a soft sigh of relief.


    jiang heng and ji yao both finished half of the sweet milk, then placed the cup back on the bedside table. jiang heng reached under the pillow and pulled out something, handing it to ji yao.


    ji yao looked closely and realized it was the document that had led to everything.


    he examined the thin plastic folder and felt a mixture of emotions. now he understood what this document meant to jiang heng. it wasn¡¯t just about being a boyfriend; it was about sharing the rest of their lives together.


    for jiang heng, it represented stability, hope, and a place where he could finally find the peace he had been seeking his whole life.


    ¡°this is so strange,¡± ji yao mumbled. ¡°so many people you could choose from, yet you somehow ended up with me.¡±


    jiang heng cast a curious glance at him and lazily raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°hmm?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s nothing,¡± ji yao said vaguely. ¡°i was just thinking that with so many previous boyfriends, none of them managed to capture your heart.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s not surprising,¡± jiang heng replied with a slight smirk.


    in his younger years, jiang heng was playful and knew how to have fun. perhaps it was because he looked like a charming playboy, but most of the people he had been with before were similar in style. some were attracted to his good looks, while others were drawn by his loving treatment towards them. most of them had clear intentions and sought passionate but short-lived romances with him.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t mind occasionally indulging in someone¡¯s companionship who conformed to his preferences, but his requirements for a lover were extraordinarily high.


    he wasn¡¯t interested in drifting along with the current or getting involved with people who were inexperienced and overly naive. such people tended to misjudge situations, and after getting together, they would unconsciously attribute all the ups and downs to him. jiang heng didn¡¯t want to shoulder that kind of additional responsibility, so he had always kept his distance from such individuals.


    however, most experienced individuals had their own agendas and weren¡¯t willing to tie themselves down to one person. so, it was like he was trying to catch seafood in a freshwater lake, hoping for a long-lasting relationship but somehow never finding it.


    until he caught ji yao, a contradictory and unconventional exception.


    thinking about this, jiang heng felt an increasing sense of destiny. he smiled, pursed his lips, and couldn¡¯t resist lowering his head to kiss ji yao.


    ¡°because you¡¯re like a unique piece of coral in the stream,¡± jiang heng said.


    ji yao momentarily didn¡¯t follow his train of thought and blinked in confusion.


    jiang heng intended to keep this as a romantic secret, so he shook his head, smiled without explaining further, and continued, ¡°by the way, do you want your study to be combined with mine, or do you want some private space?¡±


    ji yao was slightly taken aback. ¡°what?¡± he asked.


    ¡°the house hasn¡¯t been renovated yet,¡± jiang heng said with a playful smile. ¡°before we start the construction, i should at least consult my new co owner¡¯s opinion, right?¡±

 CH 66

    jiang heng was a rational person, a quality ji yao had recognized since they were dating years ago.


    he was methodical and rarely made impulsive decisions. most of the things he mentioned had already been carefully considered and evaluated in his mind before he mentioned them.


    so, just after 9 a.m. on monday morning, ji yao received a call from the interior designer, who wanted to discuss ¡°ideas for interior decoration.¡± she asked if he had time.


    ¡°interior decoration?¡± ji yao had been busy all morning with his rounds and, taking a moment to react, he asked, ¡°is it for the apartment in jing¡¯an district?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± the designer replied with a smile, politely asking, ¡°do you have some free time? we can meet at a location of your convenience.¡±


    that evening, jiang heng had casually mentioned it, and ji yao had thought he had merely made a plan for the future. he hadn¡¯t expected jiang heng to act so quickly; within two days, he had already found a designer.


    it seemed that ji yao¡¯s surprise had been evident because the designer quickly asked again, ¡°do you have time?¡±


    ¡°sure,¡± ji yao hastily replied, ¡°how about 12:30 noon?¡±


    the designer quickly agreed, and they exchanged wechat information. ji yao provided the address of a cafe next to the hospital.


    during his lunch break, ji yao changed his clothes and prepared to leave. he ran into a young nurse coming on shift, carrying a beautifully wrapped small box. she had a cheerful expression, her eyes and lips filled with a smile, and she seemed ready to bounce with energy. if she weren¡¯t on duty, she would probably be skipping.


    ¡°what¡¯s going on? did something good happen?¡± ji yao asked curiously. ¡°did you find money on the street or something?¡±


    ¡°oh, dr. ji,¡± the young nurse sighed as if pitying his lack of sophistication. ¡°it¡¯s a gift from my boyfriend. don¡¯t laugh, that love talisman really works. i just started using it, and he confessed to me.¡±


    ji yao blinked in response.


    the nurse suddenly seemed to recall something and smacked her palm as if she had figured it out. ¡°oh, dr. ji, you used it too, right? how has it worked for you?¡±


    of course, it worked¡ªquite well. ji yao thought. although this ¡°love talisman¡± was an old one, it had at least successfully reunited them.


    thinking about this, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but look at her with a puzzled expression, wondering if this thing was really so mystical.


    ¡°well, it¡¯s, uh, alright,¡± ji yao replied vaguely. fortunately, he wasn¡¯t fond of gossip, so the nurse didn¡¯t press further. she continued enthusiastically, ¡°i think it¡¯s really effective. dr. ji, you must keep using it; persistence is key!¡±


    ji yao couldn¡¯t resist her enthusiasm, so he nodded vaguely, carrying his bewilderment with him as he entered the elevator.


    first, it was mercury retrograde, and now it was love talismans. ji yao thought that sometimes it was better to believe in them rather than dismiss them completely. so, he pulled out his phone and secretly found the weibo account of that mystical blogger, then clicked the follow button.


    a notification popped up in the private message window, and ji yao soon realized that this blogger also offered customized mystical services.


    he had a head full of question marks but ultimately decided not to delete the message.


    after about ten seconds, the elevator stopped on the first floor. ji yao straightened his collar, left the hospital, and arrived at the caf¨¦. inside, someone was already waiting.


    jiang heng had chosen a designer in her early thirties, dressed in a light gray professional outfit, giving off a competent vibe.


    on her table, there was a cup of black coffee, several thick folders, and a style guide for interior decoration. she was unmistakably a professional.


    ji yao walked in and before he could introduce himself, the woman had already looked up at him. her gaze moved over him as if she were assessing him, then she smiled and stood up, greeting ji yao.


    ¡°dr. ji, right?¡± the woman smiled and gestured for him to sit. ¡°i¡¯m han and i¡¯m the designer for the interior decoration plan.¡±


    ¡°nice to meet you.¡±


    ji yao shook her hand, then sat across from her and called a waiter to order a drink.


    ¡°so, regarding the interior decoration, mr. jiang has requested that i consult with you regarding your preferences,¡± han got straight to the point. ¡°what are your thoughts on the house design?¡±


    ji yao had never been in charge of such a thing, and his only impression of a living space was whether it looked pleasant or not. thus, when han asked, he couldn¡¯t think of any specific requirements.


    han had probably dealt with many clients like ji yao before, so she smiled and, noticing his uncertainty, pulled out two floor plans and began explaining, pointing with her pen.


    ¡°well, regarding the living area downstairs, mr. jiang wishes to open up the bedroom and the adjacent small utility room to expand the bedroom space. he also wants to change the functionality of the guest room and eliminate the idea of having a secondary guest room. but we¡¯d like to know your thoughts on how to utilize this space,¡± han explained while circling a few areas on the floor plan. ¡°as for the balcony, i originally proposed a vintage-style greenery theme, but mr. jiang mentioned that you both have busy schedules and may not have time to maintain such a design.¡±


    ¡°wait, wait,¡± ji yao couldn¡¯t help but interrupt. ¡°why eliminate the guest room?¡±


    there were multiple bedrooms in jiang heng¡¯s duplex apartment, and it sounded unreasonable to eliminate a guest room.


    ¡°mr. jiang believes that there is no need for a second bedroom in this apartment,¡± han explained. ¡°he feels that this space is exclusively for the two of you and theoretically, there shouldn¡¯t be anyone else staying over.¡±


    han¡¯s explanation made ji yao realize that jiang heng might have a bit of a possessiveness to him now even more than before. he considered this area to be their private domain, and he didn¡¯t want anyone else to enter it.


    even xiaotong, it seemed, communicated with him on the outer boundary of this domain.


    ¡°but he also said that he would consider your opinion,¡± han added as she observed ji yao¡¯s expression.


    ¡°no, let¡¯s go with his idea,¡± ji yao shook his head and said, ¡°let¡¯s not have it.¡±


    ji yao was fine with jiang heng wanting to make this home exclusively theirs. jiang heng had already made a considerable effort to grant him complete freedom, so ji yao was willing to uphold this unspoken rule as much as possible, making their home as private and secure as possible.


    han nodded and noted it down in her memo.


    ¡°what about the upstairs office area?¡± han asked next. ¡°mr. jiang mentioned that you might want to separate it from his space. would you prefer an independent study or a semi-independent partition?¡±


    if this had been three years ago, ji yao would have chosen the former.


    back then, he and jiang heng were more intimate but less trusting. he had been deeply in love but hesitant, so he had paid a lot of attention to ¡°independence¡± and ¡°freedom.¡± he had always kept himself in a state where he could withdraw at any time and was stubborn about not letting his heart be fully invested in jiang heng.


    but now, he had no such concerns.


    ¡°don¡¯t listen to him on this,¡± ji yao joked. ¡°let¡¯s keep it open. just separate the desks. i find it quite efficient to work while watching him.¡±


    ¡°couples who work together are less tired,¡± han also smiled, picking up on his playful tone. she added a bit of off-topic chatter, ¡°i¡¯ve designed houses for quite a few same-sex couples, and i can tell that your relationship is very good.¡±


    their relationship was definitely strong, but ji yao and jiang heng were not just an affectionate couple. they had gone through a long period of adjustment, defeated by reality and their immaturity. they had wandered through life, spent a lot of effort fighting against themselves, and finally, they had managed to hold each other¡¯s hands.


    on jiang heng¡¯s birthday, there had been so much chaos that ji yao didn¡¯t realize there was no birthday cake until the next day.


    at the time, ji yao was puzzled because in his memory, jiang heng was someone who valued rituals. even if he had no one to celebrate with, he would buy a cake for himself; there was no way he would forget about it.


    he asked xiaotong, who had expressed regret about it, but it seemed that jiang heng had insisted on not having a cake. he claimed the cream was too sweet and no longer suited his taste.


    ji yao knew that wasn¡¯t the real reason, but he didn¡¯t dare to say much at the time. he later asked jiang heng as they headed to work the next day.


    ¡°it¡¯s not a big deal. i can have my own preferences, too,¡± jiang heng had helplessly smiled, ¡°you can just consider it my way of throwing a small tantrum.¡±


    after all, back then, xiaotong hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the special day, and taking away his birthday cake had upset him. since then, he had become more stubborn and never celebrated his birthday or shared it with anyone.


    he wasn¡¯t regretful about the past or resentful towards xiaotong. it was just that in these little things that no one knew about, jiang heng had his own pride.


    afterward, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but think that perhaps jiang heng loved him even more than he realized. jiang heng had crossed his own boundaries, given up his own principles, and was willing to try again, which might be the result of his inner struggle.

 CH 67

    for ji yao, starting a family from scratch was a very unfamiliar thing.


    fortunately, jiang heng gave him a good start. he handed over half of the decision-making power for this ¡°home¡± to ji yao, along with the responsibilities and freedom that came with it.


    perhaps because jiang heng had already briefed the designer, han, she asked very detailed questions. she systematically broke down all the aspects of interior decoration, asking ji yao for his opinions step by step.


    window curtain colors, sofa styles, and dining table materials were all things that didn¡¯t need to be decided right away, but han still asked about them meticulously.


    sometimes ji yao¡¯s opinions would deviate slightly from jiang heng¡¯s presets, but because jiang heng had given prior instructions, han tended to lean towards ji yao¡¯s suggestions.


    it seemed that jiang heng was using this method to gradually let ji yao take the initiative and gain a sense of security.


    ¡°what should be done with this area?¡± han pointed to a small room on the floor plan.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t want a guest room, but the vacant space needed to be filled. ji yao lacked imagination for this, and after racking his brain for a while, he couldn¡¯t think of any other use for it apart from a storage room.


    ¡°perhaps you can think of common hobbies between the two of you,¡± han suggested with a smile. ¡°do you both like playing games? how about a gaming room?¡±


    ¡°unfortunately we don¡¯t share that hobby,¡± ji yao thought for a moment and made a disapproving noise. ¡°how about a media room? specifically for watching movies.¡±


    ¡°a projection screen room?¡± han lowered her head to look at the blueprint, made a few quick calculations, and then nodded. ¡°we can create a small one, but won¡¯t this overlap with the tv in the living room?¡±


    ¡°jiang heng likes some obscure old movies,¡± ji yao explained. ¡°but both of us are busy with work, and we rarely have time to go to vintage movie theaters. it would be more convenient to have it at home.¡±


    three years ago, when they were still in the passionate stage of their relationship, there was a time when a cinema was screening classic old films. they were going to watch titanic, which had been restored and re-released. jiang heng really wanted to see it, but ji yao was busy with work, and jiang heng couldn¡¯t break free either. additionally, the screenings for vintage films were limited, so they missed the opportunity.


    during the period right after they broke up, ji yao often thought about the times when he stood jiang heng up, and the more he thought about it, the more guilty he felt. now that he had the chance, he wanted to pick up where they had left off.


    ¡°that sounds good,¡± han nodded in understanding. ¡°we can make it separate from the living room by using an independent design for the small media room. we can also select professional projection equipment on top of double soundproofing.¡±


    professional designers had more experience in this area than ji yao, so he nodded and approved of her plan.


    han noted down ji yao¡¯s opinions one by one, filling up an entire page in her notebook. ji yao watched as the little squares on the notepad turned into his sense of belonging, and he willingly accepted these constraints.


    it was interesting, ji yao thought. it seemed like since he had taken that step, the stormy abyss he had once feared had disappeared. but he knew deep down that the things he had feared and worried about hadn¡¯t disappeared; it was just that he couldn¡¯t see them anymore because jiang heng was on the other side of the abyss.


    ji yao¡¯s lunch break was only an hour and a half, so many things could only be discussed briefly. as the end of his workday approached, han took a look at her watch and politely suggested ending the meeting.


    ¡°that¡¯s all for today,¡± han closed her notebook and said, ¡°i¡¯ll create a preliminary design plan, and we can make modifications based on that later.¡±


    ¡°wait a moment,¡± ji yao pointed to a corner of the blueprint, asking, ¡°what about this area?¡±


    he was referring to a small room on the floor plan, located near the entrance on the ground floor. it wasn¡¯t very large and appeared to be a pre-existing storage room.


    han had asked for ji yao¡¯s input on all other matters, but she had skipped over this small room. ji yao didn¡¯t have strong control issues, but since she had made a note of it on the floor plan, he couldn¡¯t help but be curious.


    ¡°aaah this?¡± han put away the other sample catalogs into her bag, smiled, and said, ¡°this part was intentionally left by mr. jiang. he said he wants to design it himself and keep it a secret from you for now.¡±


    if han hadn¡¯t mentioned this, ji yao might not have thought much about it. however, now that she had, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but wonder about jiang heng¡¯s intentions.


    jiang heng was skilled in love; he was good at managing relationships and setting the pace. as long as he wanted to, he could keep someone immersed in happiness at all times.


    ji yao had been in a relationship with him for several years, and jiang heng¡¯s inspiration for romance seemed endless. he would occasionally surprise ji yao in ways he couldn¡¯t have imagined.


    having someone like that in his life was a source of happiness. jiang heng was adept at this art, and he always managed to touch ji yao¡¯s heart.


    in this regard, ji yao had been somewhat spoiled by jiang heng, to the point where he had just noticed a hint of something and couldn¡¯t help but anticipate what was to come.


    on the way back to the hospital, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but think about it. the more he thought, the more he felt like there were cat¡¯s claws scratching at his heart. after hesitating for a while, he couldn¡¯t resist calling jiang heng.


    although jiang heng was impartial, he definitely wouldn¡¯t reveal the answer in advance. but perhaps he could unintentionally leak a hint and satisfy ji yao¡¯s curiosity.


    walking into the hospital with his phone in hand, ji yao pressed the elevator button out of habit and listened to the standby tone on the phone.


    the elevator arrived quickly, and the metal doors slid open. at the same time, the call on the phone was finally picked up. ji yao stepped into the elevator, motioned for the person behind him to enter first, and then turned to enter the stairwell.


    ¡°hello¡ª¡±


    ¡°ji yao?¡± xiaotong¡¯s voice came quickly from the phone. ¡°is something wrong? are you looking for xiaoheng?¡±


    due to his job¡¯s nature, jiang heng always had his phone with him, so ji yao was a bit surprised and hesitated for a moment. he glanced at the phone screen to make sure he had dialed the correct number before asking, ¡°auntie? why is it you?¡±


    ¡°xiaoheng and i were just about to pick up amber and her dad,¡± xiaotong explained. ¡°xiaoheng left his phone in the car, and when i saw the incoming call was from you, i was afraid something had happened, so i answered it.¡±


    ¡°ah, it¡¯s nothing important,¡± ji yao said somewhat embarrassed. he couldn¡¯t deny that he had called out of impatience to hear about a potential ¡°surprise.¡± he touched the back of his neck and changed the subject in a low voice, ¡°so, are amber and her dad going to live with us after this?¡±


    ¡°yes, that¡¯s the plan,¡± xiaotong replied enthusiastically. ¡°xiaoheng said it would be more festive to spend christmas together, so he booked a room at the disneyland hotel. we¡¯re planning to have a weekend getaway there. oh, and he also booked a ticket for you.¡±


    ¡°okay¡­¡± ji yao said, ¡°what about him?¡±


    ¡°he¡¯s gone upstairs to get something,¡± xiaotong said, looking out of the car window at the nearby high-rise building. she then glanced at the building in front of her and said, ¡°we happened to pass by his neighborhood, and he said he had forgotten something, so he went back to retrieve it.¡±


    ¡°what did he forget?¡± ji yao wondered.


    recently, jiang heng hadn¡¯t been working, and his personal belongings had all been brought to xiaotong¡¯s villa. ji yao couldn¡¯t imagine what jiang heng would need to go back home specifically to get.


    ¡°i¡¯m not sure about that,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°do you want him to call you when he gets back?¡±


    ¡°no need for that; it¡¯s not something important,¡± ji yao said. he had considered asking for jiang heng to call him but decided against it. after all, it wasn¡¯t a matter of great significance. ¡°auntie, i¡¯ll be heading back to work now?¡±


    ¡°alright,¡± xiaotong encouraged him with a smile. ¡°good luck at work!¡±


    ji yao also smiled and replied with an ¡°okay¡± before ending the call.


    ji yao hadn¡¯t thought much of this small incident, but it wasn¡¯t until he got off work in the evening that he realized what jiang heng had gone back home to retrieve.


    at exactly 6:00 pm, jiang heng came to the hospital as usual to pick him up. ji yao opened the passenger door and got into the car. before he even had a chance to sit down properly, he noticed that there was something different about jiang heng¡¯s car key.


    ji yao only glanced at it for a moment, but he couldn¡¯t help but reach into the key holder box and pull out jiang heng¡¯s car key. he saw that the odd round keyring had a new pendant on it. a small fox mask dangled in the air, its eyes reflecting a beautiful glimmer.


    ¡°¡­you went home to get this?¡±

 CH 68

    jiang heng glanced at the keychain in ji yao¡¯s hand and nodded.


    the red fox mask had faded slightly at the edges, with a few faint scratches running horizontally across it. when you lightly touched it with your fingertip, you could still feel the prominent edges.


    this fox mask pendant was a gift ji yao had bought for jiang heng during their trip to hokkaido. after returning from their vacation, jiang heng had attached it to his keys as a keychain, and it had been there for over two years without being taken off.


    the trip to hokkaido held significant meaning for both ji yao and jiang heng. it was during that time that they had let their guards down in a foreign land for the first time, drawn instinctively closer to each other, holding hands, hugging, making love without any reservations, as if all the inhibitions in the world were kept at bay by their impulsive actions.


    it was also during that time that ji yao had mustered the courage to pursue jiang heng, seeing him as a potential companion on the journey of life. unfortunately, they had eventually gone their separate ways, and ji yao had rarely thought about those memories since then.


    after six years, seeing this pendant on jiang heng again stirred a complex mix of emotions in ji yao¡ªsourness, sweetness, and everything in between.


    ¡°you still kept it?¡± ji yao unconsciously tightened his grip on the pendant and tried to sound casual. ¡°when you left, you said you didn¡¯t take anything with you. i thought you had also thrown this away, that you didn¡¯t want it anymore.¡±


    ¡°at that time, i was too angry to want anything,¡± jiang heng shook his head, smiling with a touch of helplessness. ¡°this was with me just because i had it on my keys, and i forgot about it.¡±


    when ji yao and jiang heng were living together in their rented apartment, they had exchanged many gifts and created a home together. however, when they separated, jiang heng was in turmoil, wanting a fresh start and not wanting anything to do with ji yao. so, he made up his mind and left everything behind.


    but he had forgotten about this fox pendant that was on his keychain at the time. it was only later when he found it among his keys, and by then, he was no longer so furious, so he decided to keep it.


    but he couldn¡¯t bear to keep it with him, so he carefully stored it away in a corner of his luggage.


    ¡°is this the only thing you¡¯ve kept?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°what else could there be?¡± jiang heng wondered.


    ¡°but i saw the coin on your bedside table, the day i took you home¡± ji yao raised an eyebrow and asked.


    jiang heng was momentarily surprised but quickly realized what ji yao was referring to. he pursed his lips and smiled.


    ¡°yes, you want it?¡± jiang heng intentionally misinterpreted ji yao¡¯s meaning, knowingly asking, ¡°or should i put it on a string and hang it as a car pendant?¡±


    ji yao, ¡°¡­¡±


    ji yao vividly remembered the purpose of that coin, and just thinking about it made his cheeks flush. he couldn¡¯t help but pat jiang heng¡¯s hand with a touch of embarrassment.


    ¡°just hang it by your bedside,¡± ji yao said, ¡°as a charm.¡±


    ¡°okay,¡± jiang heng said with a smile. ¡°in terms of practicality, it¡¯s better that way.¡±


    jiang heng continued. ¡°it has been my lucky charm all this time, so in terms of ownership, it should be mine.¡±


    ji yao, somewhat unable to argue with jiang heng, pursed his lips and finally laughed.


    the sudden recollection of the past had faded somewhat due to jiang heng¡¯s lightheartedness. ji yao breathed a sigh of relief and put the key back into its holder.


    leaning back in his seat, ji yao gazed outside the window at the bustling traffic. neon lights cast a familiar glow on him through the glass, bringing back memories of another time.


    the smile on ji yao¡¯s face gradually faded, and he unconsciously rubbed his knuckles. after a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke up, ¡°how about going there again?¡±


    ¡°where?¡± jiang heng asked.


    ¡°go to hokkaido again,¡± ji yao said. ¡°i want to go.¡±


    during rush hour, the traffic ahead came to a standstill at a traffic intersection, and the traffic light warning sign in the distance had just turned from green to red. jiang heng applied the brakes and casually pressed the parking brake button.


    ¡°what a coincidence,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°i¡¯ve been thinking the same thing.¡±


    jiang heng¡¯s words had just fallen when ji yao felt a shadow cover his vision. jiang heng had unfastened his seatbelt at some point, leaned over, and held ji yao¡¯s chin, kissing him.


    except for specific circumstances, jiang heng¡¯s kisses were much like his personality, gentle and restrained, with a hint of irresistible charm.


    jiang heng¡¯s slightly cool fingertips brushed ji yao¡¯s cheek, then gently circled around his neck, pulling him forward softly.


    then, he pried open ji yao¡¯s lips and skillfully sucked on ji yao¡¯s tongue.


    ji yao lifted his head slightly and kissed him back. his right hand rested on the car seat, unconsciously tightening his fingers, gripping the soft cushion beneath him.


    in his haste, he grabbed a handful of soft fluff, picking off a small piece of decoration from the cushion.


    ¡°since the day we got back together, i¡¯ve been thinking¡­¡± jiang heng¡¯s voice, a mix of whisper and sigh, was trapped between their lips.


    ¡°i¡¯ve been thinking, when you fall, you should get back up from where you fell,¡± jiang heng said.


    ji yao imagined the scene of ¡°falling¡± based on jiang heng¡¯s words and couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing.


    ¡°but isn¡¯t that too doomy?¡± ji yao softly said with his eyes lowered.


    ¡°i thought so too,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°so how about starting anew?¡±


    ¡°i want to start over with you,¡± jiang heng said.


    their relationship had begun at that hot spring inn in hokkaido. restarting from there, jiang heng wanted to use it as a starting point.


    jiang heng was someone who valued symbolism. in his mind, the beginning and end of a relationship should be marked in some way. it was as if he naturally needed these ¡°beacons¡± to anchor his emotions and expectations. ji yao had been with him for a long time, and he had been influenced to some extent by jiang heng¡¯s personality. he started to care about these seemingly insignificant ¡°little secrets.¡±


    ¡°sounds good,¡± ji yao smiled at him and said, ¡°this pendant is old; i¡¯ll get you a new one when we get there.¡±


    jiang heng agreed.


    as they spoke, the traffic lights in front of them turned from red to green, and the congested traffic began to move slowly. jiang heng glanced at the road through the corner of his eye. reluctantly, he sat back down.


    a small injury, caused by either of them biting each other¡¯s lips, could be seen on jiang heng¡¯s lips. he touched it and felt a slight burning sensation.


    using his tongue, ji yao removed a trace of rust-like taste from the corner of jiang heng¡¯s lips, then slowly reached out his hand, tentatively crossing the cup holder towards jiang heng¡¯s side.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t look away but quickly caught his hand, gently pinching his fingertips.


    ¡°let¡¯s make two rules,¡± jiang heng suddenly said.


    ¡°what?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°mutual trust, complete honesty,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°if any problems arise next time, we should never hide them from each other.¡±


    life was long, and there was a long journey ahead for ji yao and jiang heng. in that long journey, they might encounter numerous obstacles and challenges, as well as many unavoidable hardships.


    because of a lack of trust and openness, they had missed each other once before. if it happened again, they needed to remember this lesson.


    ji yao nodded in agreement and said seriously, ¡°okay.¡±


    ¡°then it¡¯s settled,¡± jiang heng suddenly smiled, took ji yao¡¯s hand, and leaned in to whisper into his ear, half-serious and half-teasing, ¡°i¡¯ll print these rules and hang them on the front door of our home when we get back.¡±


    the words ¡°our home¡± lightly touched ji yao¡¯s heart, but this time, he didn¡¯t resist or reject it. instead, he genuinely felt a sense of hidden anticipation for what those two words represented.


    however, jiang heng¡¯s words also reminded him of the ¡°secret room¡± that he had forgotten, making him feel a tingling sensation in his heart.


    ¡°if we¡¯re really not going to hide anything from each other,¡± ji yao tentatively asked, ¡°how about telling me now what room you have at home?¡±


    ¡°oh,¡± jiang heng teased when he sensed ji yao¡¯s curiosity. ¡°so, you¡¯ve been waiting for me to mention it?¡±


    ji yao raised an eyebrow, swayed his ankles together, and looked at him triumphantly.


    ¡°well,¡± jiang heng glanced at him mischievously, ¡°that room¡­ it¡¯s for punishing you.¡±

 CH 69

    jiang heng¡¯s answer was ambiguous, neither confirming nor denying, which only piqued ji yao¡¯s curiosity further. instead of satisfying his curiosity, it increased his curiosity even more.


    moreover, regardless of ji yao¡¯s attempts to pry information from him, whether through direct questions or subtle hints, jiang heng simply smiled and remained tight-lipped, revealing nothing.


    han was in charge of jiang heng¡¯s salary and naturally regarded him as her boss. she also refused to reveal any details, saying that jiang heng hadn¡¯t informed her of anything. she indirectly suggested that ji yao should confront the real decision-maker.


    frustrated by his inability to get any answers, ji yao eventually gave up, thinking that jiang heng would eventually tell him when the time was right.


    in addition to all this, ji yao had been extremely busy in recent days. according to his schedule, he was supposed to be on duty on christmas day. however, jiang heng¡¯s chaotic birthday celebration had left ji yao without even time to eat a decent meal. ji yao had intended to make up for it on christmas day, so he had submitted a report in advance and taken half a day off.


    however, work hours could be flexible, but work itself couldn¡¯t disappear magically. ji yao had recently been assigned two interns, and he also had an unfinished research paper that was piling up. this forced him to work extra hours to catch up on his pending tasks.


    therefore, within a couple of days, he had almost forgotten about the matter with jiang heng.


    on christmas day, he was swamped with work. if it weren¡¯t for the reminder alarm on his phone, he would have forgotten about leaving work early.


    ¡°doctor, here are the records of last night¡¯s emergency cases on ward 6,¡± one of the interns knocked on his office door, entered, and placed the files on his desk. ¡°please review them for any issues, and if there are none, we can start entering them into the system.¡±


    ji yao turned off the reminder alarm on his phone, pinched the bridge of his nose, and reached for the record book. he nodded and said, ¡°i won¡¯t be here this afternoon, so if you have any questions, ask me now.¡±


    checking his watch, ji yao added, ¡°i still have half an hour before i leave. make the most of it.¡±


    the interns had only been there for a few days and were not yet familiar with the workflow in the department of general surgery. they were nervous and eager to learn, often seeking guidance from ji yao whenever possible. when they heard that ji yao would be absent in the afternoon, they quickly called in their classmates as well.


    ji yao opened the record book, took out a pen from the holder, and carefully reviewed the emergency records. then, he grabbed a blank sheet of paper and listed the parts that needed modification.


    ji yao was a graduate with excellent handwriting, and his feedback was concise and clear, almost serving as a sample for corrections.


    ¡°emergency records are not just dull text,¡± ji yao said, tapping the top of the record with his pen. ¡°at critical times, they are your means of protection.¡±


    ¡°critical patients are at risk of their conditions worsening and can easily lead to medical disputes,¡± ji yao continued. ¡°in case something goes wrong, the emergency records serve as evidence of your actions and decisions. so, as i¡¯ve said before, the timestamps must be clear¡ªwhere did you write the time?¡±


    the intern glanced at the record and touched the back of their head, apologizing softly, ¡°i¡¯m sorry, doctor. i forgot. the situation was too critical at the time, and i planned to fill it in later¡­¡±


    ¡°filling it in later? what if the patient¡¯s family sees something wrong and asks you to explain it?¡± ji yao said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°are you going to make last-minute changes to the records?¡±


    ji yao had learned the hard way from his past experiences with medical disputes. he knew that he had been extremely lucky to escape unscathed, so he was particularly strict in this regard.


    the intern realized their mistake and lowered their head, admitting their fault. they took the record book and the list of modifications and retreated.


    ¡°it¡¯s a good opportunity to correct mistakes during the internship,¡± ji yao said in a more gentle tone. ¡°making mistakes is inevitable, but it¡¯s better to learn from them now than when you officially start working.¡±


    as ji yao finished speaking, the office door was suddenly knocked on, and he saw the on-duty nurse waiting outside.


    ¡°doctor ji, someone is looking for you.¡±


    ¡°who is it?¡± ji yao asked in confusion.


    before he could get an answer, a familiar figure appeared behind the nurse. this person looked tired, had a resentful expression on their face, and exuded a low energy level. without waiting for ji yao to say anything, they squeezed through the door past the nurse.


    they entered the office, walked around for a moment without saying a word, and then opened the water dispenser, grabbed a paper cup, and poured themselves a glass of water, which they downed quickly.


    ji yao raised an eyebrow, puzzled.


    the two interns, thinking it was a family member of a patient, exchanged glances and tugged at their sleeves, signaling that it was time for them to leave. they then exited the office.


    coincidentally, ji yao¡¯s alarm clock rang for the second time.


    ¡°what are you doing here, he xiangyin?¡± ji yao asked, still puzzled.


    ¡°i¡¯ve come to seek your help,¡± he xiangyin¡¯s face, which had initially displayed ¡°grievance,¡± seamlessly transitioned into a ¡°mournful¡± expression. he crushed the paper cup and threw it into the trash can, pitifully saying, ¡°i got into a fight with my boyfriend again. can you please shelter me for a while?¡±


    ¡°another fight?¡± ji yao wondered. ¡°can¡¯t you two talk it out? instead of constantly fighting, why not communicate better?¡±


    he xiangyin: ¡°¡­¡±


    he xiangyin knew he was in the wrong, so he lowered his head, admitted his mistake, and hugged ji yao¡¯s leg, starting to sob. ¡°but since you already have a husband, please let me stay for a couple of days. i promise i won¡¯t enter your bedroom; i¡¯ll just sleep on the couch!¡±


    whenever he xiangyin had a disagreement with his boyfriend, he would go around seeking shelter, and ji yao was used to it. he pushed his leg away irritably and took out his own house key from his pocket.


    he xiangyin¡¯s eyes lit up, and he instinctively reached out to take it. ¡°i knew you¡ª¡±


    at he xiangyin¡¯s fingertips, ji yao suddenly remembered something, retracted his hand, and pulled the key back into his palm.


    ¡°no, you can¡¯t stay with me this time,¡± ji yao said. ¡°my boyfriend doesn¡¯t like other people entering our home.¡±


    he xiangyin watched as the place to stay slipped through his fingers, his face filled with disappointment and frustration. he was on the verge of accusing ji yao of choosing love over friendship.


    ¡°ji yao, you¡ª¡±


    ¡°but you reminded me of something,¡± ji yao pondered for a moment and said, ¡°as a token of gratitude, i¡¯ve decided to lend you my ritz-carlton gold card.¡±


    ¡°you¡¯re such a loyal friend,¡± he xiangyin smiled.


    ji yao didn¡¯t notice his subtle hesitation. his thoughts were currently focused on something else. he hurriedly sent he xiangyin away after giving him the electronic card. then, he changed his clothes, locked the locker, and left work.


    jiang heng seemed to have set an alarm for ji yao¡¯s time to leave work. just as ji yao left the elevator, he received a call from jiang heng on his phone.


    ji yao put on his earphones, answered the call, and opened the ride-hailing app.


    ¡°are you off work?¡± jiang heng asked with a smile.


    ¡°yes,¡± ji yao replied, ¡°i just left.¡±


    ¡°we¡¯re at disneyland and just checked into the hotel,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°i¡¯ll send you the check-in code in a moment.¡±


    since charles and amber were in the country, jiang heng couldn¡¯t drive over to pick up ji yao this time. ji yao had to take a ride and meet them there.


    ¡°got it,¡± ji yao said. ¡°i¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    ¡°okay,¡± jiang heng paused for a moment, and ji yao could hear him moving a couple of steps to a quieter place. then he continued, ¡°what should we do, yao? i think i miss you a little.¡±


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but laugh and replied, ¡°but we¡¯ve only been apart for five hours.¡±


    ¡°maybe it¡¯s because everyone here is in pairs? even amber bought a plush toy to hug, and i¡¯m the only one without my partner,¡± jiang heng said with a single hand in his pocket. he glanced back at the crowd near the entrance to the park and continued, ¡°so, are you on your way here now?¡±


    ji yao set his ride-hailing destination and smiled, ¡°i¡¯m on my way, i¡¯ll be there soon.¡±

 CH 70

    christmas had been turned into a valentine¡¯s day of sorts by relentless marketing efforts over the years, and the streets were filled with people. ji yao spent almost an hour stuck in traffic before finally arriving at his destination in a somewhat dazed state.


    first, he went to the hotel to drop off his things and check in. then, he followed the entrance to disney town, not going too far before spotting jiang heng and amber coming from a distance, seemingly there to pick him up.


    amber was dressed casually, with a style similar to jiang heng¡¯s. she had a thick red cape draped over her, was holding a duffy bear in her arms, and had a star daru small waist bag around her waist. from a distance, she looked like a mix-and-match candy spirit.


    in contrast, jiang heng kept it simple. he wasn¡¯t dressed like a businessman but had a beige coat over his casual attire, looking warm and gentle, like a recent college graduate.


    ji yao saw them from afar and couldn¡¯t help but squint and wave as they approached.


    jiang heng smiled in response and then let go of amber¡¯s hand, allowing her to rush toward ji yao like a little cannonball. he leisurely followed behind.


    amber¡¯s footsteps were surprisingly fast as she sprinted over, hugged ji yao¡¯s legs, and looked up at him with a mischievous grin. she politely greeted, ¡°sister-in-law!¡±


    ji yao: ¡°???¡± her words were confidently spoken and resonated loudly, even more than a public announcement, causing passersby to turn their heads in surprise.


    ji yao took a deep breath and momentarily didn¡¯t know how to correct her misconception.


    ¡°it¡¯s not my fault,¡± jiang heng, who had come closer, suppressed his laughter and said, ¡°blame her dad. her dad insists on calling his brother¡¯s partner ¡®sister-in-law.''¡±


    charles was a china enthusiast with an almost fanatical interest in chinese culture. unfortunately, he had become a self-taught half-baked expert and was overconfident in these strange matters, which inadvertently led amber into the same situation.


    ¡°i¡¯m not your sister-in-law,¡± ji yao handed the portable charger he had bought on the way to jiang heng and then bent down to face the little candy spirit, saying calmly, ¡°i¡¯m your brother-in-law.¡±


    ¡°taking advantage of me in front of the child?¡± jiang heng couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°you should have waited until i wasn¡¯t close before saying that.¡±


    ji yao acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard and stood up with a smile. he extended a hand to amber and held hers.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t mind too much; he naturally walked over to ji yao¡¯s side and held ji yao¡¯s other hand, leaning in to whisper in his ear.


    ¡°i¡¯m tired,¡± jiang heng complained softly, ¡°i¡¯ve ridden the small minecart with miss amber twice already, and everyone else are kids or young girls. i feel out of place there.¡±


    ¡°you¡¯re the one who insisted on coming to a fairy tale theme park,¡± ji yao teased, holding back his laughter. ¡°auntie originally suggested spending christmas at home, but you didn¡¯t agree.¡±


    ¡°today is their wedding anniversary,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°and amber is here too. it wouldn¡¯t be right for me to monopolize my mom.¡±


    speaking of charles and xiaotong, ji yao seemed to have just remembered something. he looked around and asked in confusion, ¡°where are the two of them?¡±


    ¡°they went off to have some alone time,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°we agreed to meet in front of the castle after picking you up.¡±


    compared to amber, who couldn¡¯t participate in many activities due to her height, charles and xiaotong clearly felt more at ease in this theme park.


    charles was an artist with an almost fanatical enthusiasm for childhood and empathy, even in his fifties. as for xiaotong, she had a natural sense of freedom and romance in her bones. when the two of them were together, their intelligence seemed to regress to childhood.


    according to jiang heng, they went crazy as soon as they entered the theme park and were last seen in line for the honey pot ride before parting ways.


    jiang heng checked his watch and said, ¡°it¡¯s almost time for us to meet up with them. shall we head in that direction?¡±


    ji yao nodded, and jiang heng naturally let go of ji yao¡¯s hand and instead wrapped his arm around ji yao¡¯s waist, leading him in the direction of their rendezvous.


    ji yao lowered his head and glanced jiang heng¡¯s hand around his waist, raising an eyebrow. he obediently followed jiang heng¡¯s steps without saying anything.


    during their courtship, ji yao had noticed that jiang heng could be quite clingy at times. he seemed to enjoy intimate gestures and was always affectionate.


    three years had passed, and jiang heng had matured, but this particular habit had not changed.


    in front of the castle, xiaotong and charles were already waiting. when ji yao and the others approached, they were passionately taking pictures.


    amber ran over from a distance, squeezed her way between them, and made a scissor hand gesture.


    xiaotong¡¯s eyes lit up when she finally noticed ji yao and jiang heng. she walked over with a warm smile and gave ji yao a big hug.


    ¡°i heard from xiao heng,¡± xiaotong whispered in ji yao¡¯s ear, ¡°thank you for being willing to reconcile with him.¡±


    ji yao was momentarily stunned. he subconsciously turned to look at jiang heng, but jiang heng was engaged in conversation with amber and didn¡¯t notice his gaze.


    ¡°not at all,¡± ji yao withdrew his gaze and smiled. he said softly, ¡°thank you for accepting me into this family.¡±


    xiaotong looked at him with gentle eyes and a pleased smile on her face.


    ¡°i¡¯m someone who has experienced a failed marriage before, and even though i¡¯m older, there¡¯s nothing i can teach you,¡± xiaotong said softly and earnestly. ¡°but all i can say is that, love itself may be impulsive at times, but it also needs to be nurtured. whatever happens in the future, i hope you can persevere and not easily give up on each other.¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t worry,¡± ji yao said earnestly, ¡°we will do our best to be with each other for a long time.¡±


    as they spoke, jiang heng finally managed to extricate himself from amber¡¯s clingy enthusiasm. he turned to look at ji yao and xiaotong and asked with a smile, ¡°what are you two doing standing there? come over, amber wants to eat ice cream.¡±


    ji yao said seriously, ¡°we were talking about your childhood history.¡±


    ji yao intended to keep this bit of ¡°elderly experience¡± as a little secret between him and xiaotong. xiaotong understood and nodded in agreement.


    ¡°really?¡± jiang heng chuckled. ¡°i don¡¯t have any dark history. i was a good student every year when i was a child.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s right,¡± xiaotong smiled. ¡°that¡¯s why we¡¯re praising you.¡±


    with a wink at ji yao, xiaotong walked away with a cheerful smile and held amber¡¯s hand to buy ice cream with charles.


    the ice cream area was filled with children, and jiang heng didn¡¯t feel like squeezing through with them. he slowed down and leisurely walked with ji yao toward that direction.


    that day, disney was crowded with people. as they walked, amber would occasionally bump into people¡¯s legs, so charles bent down to pick her up and held her in his arms.


    in the crowd, xiaotong seemed to remember something and turned to say a few words to amber, causing both charles and amber to burst into laughter simultaneously.


    jiang heng gazed at the backs of the three of them from afar, with a faint smile on his lips.


    ji yao had initially stood on the outskirts of the crowd, watching them, but as he continued to watch, he felt a bit uneasy.


    the barriers of time and space did exist. no matter how much xiaotong loved jiang heng, the fact remained that she had a new family now. she could make it up to jiang heng or sacrifice time with her husband and daughter to be with him. but in moments like these, their family atmosphere was so integrated, harmonious, without guilt or subtle boundaries.


    just like how jiang heng should be among them but remained outside the crowd, he had unknowingly become an outsider in xiaotong¡¯s life.


    in front of the ice cream cart, xiaotong took an ice cream from the counter and handed it to amber. she adjusted the cape for her, and ji yao¡¯s gaze landed on the ice cream in amber¡¯s hand. he fell silent for a moment, then suddenly turned and walked away.


    jiang heng grabbed his arm in confusion. ¡°where are you going?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯ll be back in a moment,¡± ji yao said.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t think much of it, assuming that ji yao needed to use the restroom or buy something. he reminded him not to get lost and let go of his hand, waiting for xiaotong and the others to come out.


    ten minutes later, ji yao returned, and jiang heng was about to ask where he had gone when ji yao handed him a large rainbow-shaped lollipop.


    ¡°don¡¯t eat ice cream in this cold weather,¡± ji yao looked at the sky, the ground, and the castle, deliberately avoiding jiang heng¡¯s gaze, ¡°have some candy instead.¡±


    jiang heng looked at the lollipop, then turned to look at amber in the crowd holding ice cream. suddenly, he realized something.


    he twisted the candy around in his hand, somewhat helplessly saying, ¡°is it really necessary? i¡¯m already this old, do i need to compete for this?¡±


    ¡°only kids eat snacks,¡± jiang heng teased, wanting to put the candy back in ji yao¡¯s hand. ¡°by the way, i should get you one too.¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t want it?¡± ji yao stepped back to avoid his hand and asked, ¡°we can never be too old to make up for time and experiences lost¡±


    jiang heng was momentarily taken aback by his words. he opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, and surprisingly didn¡¯t respond.


    after a while, he gradually snapped out of his dazed state. he raised an eyebrow, this time not insisting on giving the childish rainbow lollipop back. instead, he held it in his own hand.


    ¡°alright,¡± jiang heng pretended to sigh, looking extremely helpless. but there was a suppressed smile in the corners of his eyes and lips. he had taken advantage of the situation and playfully put the lollipop behind him. he said with a smile, ¡°i¡¯ll hold on to it, is that okay?¡±

 CH 71

    jiang heng reluctantly uttered these words, but in reality, his whole demeanor became more lively. ji yao keenly noticed that his hand behind his back was moving up and down unconsciously, absentmindedly flipping the lollipop.


    ji yao pursed his lips, chuckled softly, and turned his face towards the crowd without exposing jiang heng¡¯s small gesture.


    amber and the others quickly emerged from the crowd. she held an ice cream in her hand, bouncing over to jiang heng. before she could say anything, she noticed the candy behind him.


    ¡°wow!¡± amber¡¯s eyes lit up, and she said, ¡°can i have a bite?¡±


    colorful candies have a fatal attraction to children. normally, jiang heng wouldn¡¯t mind such a small thing, but this time he didn¡¯t offer it generously. instead, he shook his head.


    ¡°no, you can¡¯t,¡± jiang heng bent down, looking at her with a smiling face, and whispered while tilting his head, ¡°this is a gift to me from your sister-in-law.¡±


    ¡°ah¡­¡± amber seemed somewhat disappointed and whispered, ¡°can i trade my ice cream with your candy, then?¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s not possible either,¡± jiang heng said seriously. ¡°the things you have were bought by the people who love you to make you happy, and mine are the same. they love us, so they are generous like this. so it¡¯s not just food; it can¡¯t be used for trading.¡±


    this topic seemed a bit too deep for amber, and she made a single syllable sound, looking down at her ice cream.


    young children might not understand, but adults quickly realized what was happening. charles and xiaotong exchanged a glance, both somewhat regretful.


    ¡°do you want ice cream too?¡± xiaotong hesitated and said, ¡°should i go¡­¡±


    ¡°mom,¡± jiang heng interrupted her softly, ¡°the past is in the past. you don¡¯t have to be so cautious.¡±


    he smiled and bent his eyes, showing off his ¡°candy¡± with a sense of pride. ¡°besides, i have my own life now.¡±


    xiaotong had been feeling guilty, and jiang heng knew that, but he wasn¡¯t good at dealing with this kind of guilt. he didn¡¯t know how to dispel this well-intentioned awkwardness.


    for a long time, jiang heng had been in a state of conflict. he didn¡¯t want his relationship with xiaotong to continue in a state of guilt and self-blame, but subconsciously, he found it hard to convince himself to withdraw from her life.


    these conflicting thoughts made it difficult for jiang heng to interact naturally with xiaotong until ji yao returned to his side. jiang heng then realized another way out on his own.


    ¡°are you happy with your life now?¡± jiang heng suddenly asked.


    ¡°very happy,¡± xiaotong answered instinctively. ¡°there¡¯s not much financial pressure, charles is also a good person, so i¡¯m doing fine.¡±


    ¡°same here,¡± jiang heng sighed deeply. he took a step forward, somewhat awkwardly wrapping his arm around xiaotong¡¯s shoulder, allowing her to lean on him.


    ¡°i¡¯m doing well too,¡± jiang heng tilted his head back, saying softly, ¡°i have my own career, and my love life is not bad either. although yao can be like a child sometimes, he has a good heart and is brave. after our reunion, i have confidence in walking together with him.¡±


    xiaotong¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and she leaned on her son¡¯s shoulder, making a soft sound of agreement.


    ¡°we are both doing fine, so that¡¯s good,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°we should always look forward.¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m sorry,¡± xiaotong said softly. ¡°when you were young, i neglected you.¡±


    this sentence had been weighing on xiaotong¡¯s heart for a long time. she had wanted to say it but didn¡¯t have the courage. it was as if as long as this layer of window paper wasn¡¯t pierced, she wouldn¡¯t have to face this painful reality. but keeping the wound covered would only cause it to worsen. her efforts to compensate and her guilt were of no use, only dragging her and jiang heng into a more misplaced love.


    it wasn¡¯t until now, reading between the lines of jiang heng¡¯s words, that she sensed some kind of signal, allowing her to finally speak these words aloud.


    ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± jiang heng responded without offering comforting words this time. he simply accepted her apology with a smile and said, ¡°i forgive you. it was your first time being a mother.¡±


    xiaotong turned around and hugged jiang heng tightly.


    jiang heng patted her back and whispered in her ear, ¡°get on good terms with charles. maybe someday i¡¯ll have a wedding in france.¡±


    ¡°sure,¡± xiaotong said in a hushed voice. ¡°when the time comes, let me know in advance. i¡¯ll trade his little treasury and use it as your wedding fund.¡±


    this joke dispelled the previously heavy and stifling atmosphere. xiaotong let go of jiang heng, her eyes red from crying but smiling.


    ¡°you¡¯re a good son, xiaoheng,¡± xiaotong said.


    she patted jiang heng¡¯s shoulder and brushed away the nonexistent dust on it, looking at him with a grateful yet reluctant expression, as if she were watching a child leave home, full of both joy and sadness.


    ¡°it will be even better in the future,¡± xiaotong said.


    jiang heng nodded and then held her hand, walking back into the crowd.


    in the afternoon, there was a float parade, and amber was excited to watch it. charles and xiaotong led her a little ahead, while ji yao slowed down and walked alongside jiang heng.


    ¡°you¡¯ve made progress,¡± ji yao said with a meaningful look. ¡°i thought you and aunt xiaotong would continue to be lukewarm toward each other.¡±


    ¡°close call,¡± jiang heng replied with a half-smile and a glance at ji yao. he said casually, ¡°someone deserves credit for this. when i get back, i¡¯ll reward you very well.¡±


    perhaps moments of enlightenment were just like this, jiang heng thought. even though nothing had changed in his life, having ji yao made him feel like he had regained the ability to interact with xiaotong. it was as if a certain frozen switch had been turned on.


    perhaps breaking free from one¡¯s constraints was sometimes just that simple because when you had an extra piece of candy in your pocket, you were willing to share the one you had before.


    ¡°really?¡± ji yao cleared his throat and hinted, ¡°do the privileges also include going to see the puppet dance?¡±


    jiang heng keenly understood ji yao¡¯s suggestion, so he smiled and, amid the bustling crowd, took ji yao¡¯s hand.


    ¡°sure, let¡¯s go,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°let¡¯s elope and ride the roller coaster.¡±


    ji yao wasn¡¯t interested in activities for younger children, so he readily agreed and followed jiang heng as they went against the flow of people. ahead, amber seemed to sense something. she had just turned her head to find her brother but was turned back around by xiaotong.


    ¡°they are having some alone time,¡± xiaotong said. ¡°kids shouldn¡¯t meddle.¡±


    ji yao and jiang heng spent the entire afternoon together. ji yao wasn¡¯t initially interested in the amusement park, but after riding the extreme light wheel a couple of times, it seemed to open up his senses. he enthusiastically led jiang heng to several more rides and only rushed back to the castle with him just before the fireworks display.


    they had initially wanted to call xiaotong and the others to meet up, but for some reason, the calls couldn¡¯t get through due to the noise. so they gave up on the idea and decided to enjoy the park separately.


    the best viewing spots around the castle were already occupied by people, so jiang heng and ji yao settled for a spot on the outer ring.


    christmas attracted quite a crowd, and more and more people were arriving. jiang heng was squeezed by the crowd closer to ji yao, extending his arm and resting it on ji yao¡¯s shoulder.


    as the time for the fireworks drew near, during the last minute countdown, jiang heng and ji yao suddenly called each other¡¯s names simultaneously.


    ¡°you go first,¡± jiang heng smiled.


    ji yao¡¯s gaze flickered for a moment. he didn¡¯t look at jiang heng but reached into his pocket, took something out, and pressed it into jiang heng¡¯s hand.


    it was cold, hard, and had distinct edges.


    jiang heng touched it with his fingertips and found it to be a brand-new house key.


    ¡°isn¡¯t your place under renovation?¡± ji yao said. ¡°i¡¯ll take you in in the meantime.¡±


    jiang heng chuckled.


    ji yao knew that this reason sounded rather awkward. given jiang heng¡¯s financial status, he had a thousand ways to find a place to stay, and it wouldn¡¯t leave him homeless just because of renovation. but after several attempts to draft a natural opening line, it had ended up as it was now.


    ¡°in fact, i know i¡¯m not a perfect boyfriend,¡± ji yao said. ¡°thank you for waiting for me all these years.¡±


    ¡°you don¡¯t have to be perfect,¡± jiang heng reached out to touch his cheek and smiled.


    ¡°isn¡¯t life about bettering each other and growing together?¡± jiang heng said.


    as he spoke, ji yao¡¯s phone suddenly rang abruptly. ji yao instinctively looked down and realized he had received a timed email.


    ¡°as adults, we can¡¯t go back on our promises,¡± jiang heng smiled. ¡°so, you have to be with me for a lifetime.¡±


    the email contained only one photo. in the photo, there was a wide-open box containing two sets of very new documents. one was the guardianship agreement ji yao had given to jiang heng earlier, and the other, similar in content but different in form, was a guardianship authorization signed by jiang heng himself.


    in the ¡°authorized person¡± section, ji yao¡¯s full name was written. both documents were neatly arranged at the bottom of the box, and a handwritten note was stuck inside the top cover of the box, reading ¡°partnership documents storage¡± in large letters.


    ¡ªit was clearly jiang heng¡¯s handwriting.


    ji yao felt like crying and laughing at the same time. just as he was about to say something, fireworks suddenly erupted nearby.


    immediately, the people around them exclaimed, and ji yao heard someone shouting, ¡± i want to successfully pass the postgraduate entrance exam,¡± while others were making wishes for ¡°smooth love,¡± and some even directly yelled, ¡°i want to get rich next year.¡±


    the blazing fireworks lit up the sky, and the fiery light reflected in ji yao¡¯s pupils, leaving a trail of fine sparks.


    the next moment, jiang heng gently lowered his head and kissed him. in the surging crowd, amidst the devout and pure wishes, jiang heng affectionately and tenderly pressed his lips against ji yao¡¯s, murmuring ¡°happy birthday.¡±


    underneath the fireworks, they embraced, kissed amidst the dazzling and slightly cool lights, as the radiant and colorful lights fell on them, just like that night when they fell in love at first sight.

 CH 72

    jiang heng¡¯s unabashed actions caused a bit of a stir, but fortunately, most of the people at disneyland were young people, so nobody paid much attention to them, just a few glances here and there..


    there were even some young people cheering on the side, shouting, ¡°wishing you a hundred years of happiness!¡±


    ji yao blushed to the roots of his ears, feeling like he had never been so bold in his life ¨C here in his home country, in front of everyone, kissing a man was something ji yao had never dared to think about before.


    he used to be afraid of his sexuality being exposed, afraid of being discovered by his parents, and even more afraid of losing everything because of it.


    he used to be weak and evasive, but at this moment, in jiang heng¡¯s eyes, he was braver than anyone else in the world.


    ¡°i love you,¡± ji yao said.


    jiang heng smiled and replied, ¡°i love you too.¡±


    fireworks lit up the sky, bringing a warm afterglow. the lights carried the falling fireworks, continuing the dazzling scenery.


    after the fireworks display, jiang heng took ji yao back to the hotel. xiaotong had returned a bit earlier and was packing up to get ready for bed. jiang heng sent her a message on wechat to let her know they were back but didn¡¯t go to their room to say goodnight. instead, he took ji yao directly to his room.


    ¡°aren¡¯t we going to their room first before going back to ours?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng replied, turning to him and smiling. ¡°i need to reward you immediately, or have you forgotten?.¡±


    perhaps jiang heng had been influenced by the atmosphere of the theme park, or maybe it was ji yao¡¯s boldness with the keys, but he seemed to be in a much better mood and more lively than usual.


    jiang heng pulled ji yao into the room, and then he let go of his hand and went straight to the inner room. first, he placed the lollipop he had been holding all the way into a cup, and then, mysteriously, he pulled back the curtains like a magician and took out a cake box.


    it occurred to ji yao that this should be their ¡°shared birthday.¡±


    jiang heng seemed to have an unusual obsession with cakes. whether he was in a good mood or not, he always wanted to buy one. but if someone was there to share it with him, his mood would noticeably improve.


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but smile and look around instinctively. he walked over to the window and closed the curtains before sitting down at the table.


    jiang heng opened the cake box, revealing a not very large cream cake, just enough for two grown men.


    ¡°a fresh start,¡± jiang heng joked. ¡°this time it¡¯s pineapple-flavored.¡±


    three years ago, that christmas was not a good memory for both of them. until today, ji yao could still vividly recall the force with which he had thrown that piece of cake onto the floor.


    the cream that was fragile and delicate, turned into an indistinct white mixture on the hard floor, just like their chaotic and fragile love at the beginning.


    jiang heng wasn¡¯t someone who liked to play dumb. he didn¡¯t want to simply cover up past mistakes, but he wanted to give both of them a new beginning.


    jiang heng stood up, turned off the lights, placed candles on the table, and handed ji yao a fork.


    ¡°make a wish,¡± jiang heng said.


    the warm and flickering candlelight outlined vague contours on their faces, and ji yao looked at jiang heng through the candlelight, meeting his gentle gaze with a smile.


    it had been a long time since they celebrated their birthdays together, so long that it felt like a different lifetime, yet also as if it were just yesterday.


    ji yao gripped the fork tightly and suddenly felt an inexplicable emotion welling up from deep within. he felt like he should be happy, his chest filled to the brim, and he couldn¡¯t help but want to smile. but his eyes were hot, and he felt a shallow, subtle acidity seeping into his heart.


    his eyes almost immediately turned red, but fortunately, the halo of candlelight concealed it all, not revealing any trace to jiang heng.


    ¡°i wish¡­¡± ji yao choked up as soon as he started to speak. he paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°i wish that on my sixtieth birthday, we can upgrade the cake to white truffle.¡±


    jiang heng chuckled.


    after holding back for a while, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but laugh too.


    ¡°okay,¡± jiang heng said seriously. ¡°this is a long-term plan. when we get back, we¡¯ll write it down and keep it with our partnership documents.¡±


    behind this absurd ¡°birthday wish¡± was a delicate and wonderful hope, which jiang heng understood, but he didn¡¯t expose ji yao¡¯s thoughts. instead, he lowered his head and, together with ji yao, blew out the birthday candles.


    after blowing out the candles, jiang heng didn¡¯t turn on the main light, just the small night light next to it.


    ji yao was about to take a bite when jiang heng stopped him.


    ¡°is there something you haven¡¯t said?¡± jiang heng asked.


    jiang heng was quite particular about ceremonial things like this, and ji yao raised an eyebrow when he heard that. he looked at jiang heng and then said at the same time, ¡°happy birthday.¡±


    ¡°alright,¡± jiang heng smiled and said, ¡°let¡¯s eat.¡±


    the cake was only slightly larger than a palm, and they hadn¡¯t had dinner that night, so they were a bit hungry now. they didn¡¯t bother to cut it and simply shared the cake plate.


    halfway through eating, jiang heng¡¯s room door was suddenly knocked, and ji yao instinctively asked who it was. he then heard amber¡¯s childish voice responding from outside.


    jiang heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    eating alone while hiding from a child was obviously not the behavior of adults. jiang heng hurriedly destroyed the evidence and signaled ji yao to hide everything while he went to open the door.


    ¡°big brother,¡± amber stood at the door with a plush toy in her arms, raised her face solemnly, and called him, ¡°i suddenly remembered that i haven¡¯t given you a goodnight kiss.¡±


    ¡°really?¡± jiang heng smiled and bent down, gently touching her cheek. ¡°then, goodnight?¡±


    amber came closer and gave him a kiss, but then, as if sensing something, she sniffed his collar.


    ¡°big brother,¡± amber suddenly asked, ¡°why do you smell like cream?¡±


    jiang heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°maybe it¡¯s because you really wanted ice cream,¡± jiang heng¡¯s mind raced and he awkwardly replied, ¡°go to bed early, and you can have another one tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°why don¡¯t you have the lights on in your room?¡± amber tilted her head, looked into the room, and wondered, ¡°it¡¯s really dark in there.¡±


    ¡°because we¡¯re getting ready to sleep,¡± jiang heng cleared his throat and said, ¡°staying up late will make you shorter.¡±


    ¡°oh,¡± amber was convinced by his explanation, nodded like a little adult, and then extended her hand to hug jiang heng¡¯s neck. ¡°then, goodnight, big brother.¡±


    she seemed like a little robot here to check off a task. after saying that, she waved at jiang heng and hopped back to her neighboring room.


    jiang heng heaved a sigh of relief and turned around, only to realize that ji yao had somehow hidden behind the curtains with the cake. he had only half of his head sticking out, looking like a guilty husband caught in the act.


    ¡°she¡¯s gone,¡± jiang heng said.


    ji yao also heaved a sigh of relief, walked out with the cake plate, and halfway through, he realized something was amiss.


    ¡°why do i feel like i¡¯m sneaking around like a thief?¡± ji yao puzzled, ¡°i¡¯m just eating cake, not stealing it.¡±


    jiang heng thought for a moment and couldn¡¯t figure out the answer either. in the end, he could only attribute it to the fact that when the two of them got together, their intelligence seemed to decrease.


    ¡°and you,¡± ji yao said softly, ¡°why do you have to do this behind amber¡¯s back? it makes us seem childish.¡±


    jiang heng didn¡¯t say anything, he simply kicked ji yao¡¯s ankle under the table, looking dissatisfied with the ¡°accomplice¡± comment.


    the two of them silently fell into a synchronized laughter for a moment.


    ¡°this is embarrassing,¡± ji yao said, trying to hold back his laughter.

 CH 73

    after christmas, xiaotong¡¯s trip to china was coming to an end.


    charles had business overseas, and as the year-end approached, they were quite busy over there. his partners had already called several times urging him to return, and after postponing it several times, charles finally felt embarrassed to delay any further.


    xiaotong, amber and charles had a joyful weekend, making the most of their time before they had to part ways. perhaps due to a close blood connection, amber felt a strong reliance on her brother, jiang heng. reluctantly, she clung to his leg and shed a few tears, clearly showing her reluctance to return to her home country.


    ¡°it¡¯s okay, amber. your brother will come to see you in france,¡± xiaotong half-squatted next to her, smiling and saying, ¡°and when you grow up a bit more, you can come visit china every holiday.¡±


    amber gripped jiang heng¡¯s trouser leg and hesitantly asked, ¡°really?¡±


    ¡°absolutely,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°we are family, no matter how far apart we are, we will always meet.¡±


    perhaps the conversation jiang heng had with xiaotong recently had an impact, and in the last few days, xiaotong had become less cautious and gradually regained her carefree self, which she had before. she was originally a free spirit, and once she let go of her burdens, she easily picked up her spirits again.


    amber was still young and easily satisfied. after making a ¡°holiday pact¡± with jiang heng, she reluctantly accepted the reality of their separation.


    on the day xiaotong was leaving, ji yao took a day off to accompany jiang heng in seeing them off. jiang heng gave amber a piece of blue amber the size of a walnut, which he had turned into a necklace for her, considering it a parting gift.


    xiaotong also turned to face ji yao.


    ¡°actually, ji yao, i also have a gift for you,¡± xiaotong looked at ji yao and smiled, ¡°my purpose in coming back this time was to see how xiaoheng is doing ¨C now that i see you are taking good care of him, i am relieved.¡±


    xiaotong took a document from her bag and handed it to ji yao, saying, ¡°the small house we¡¯ve been staying in these days is a property left to me by my father. i love its architectural style and the small river behind it. however, i spend most of my time abroad, and it¡¯s a pity to leave it abandoned. so, i¡¯ve decided to give this gift to you as a token of our first meeting.¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    although the location of the small villa was not in the city center, it was an old building with a large area. the current market value was at least eight figures. xiaotong¡¯s decision to give it away seemed like she either had no concept of domestic housing prices due to being abroad for so long or genuinely didn¡¯t care about such things.


    ¡°no, no, no,¡± ji yao was taken aback and quickly pushed the document back to her, saying, ¡°auntie, i can¡¯t accept this.¡±


    ji yao seemed to find his refusal too abrupt and awkward, so he coughed and made a joke, ¡°this is too precious, auntie. it¡¯s even more expensive than an engagement gift.¡±


    beside him, jiang heng couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ji yao shot him a glare and secretly pinched his waist from behind.


    wincing in pain, jiang heng cleared his throat and intervened, ¡°mom, he¡¯s right. chinese people typically don¡¯t give away houses as a gift. ji yao would feel a lot of pressure.¡±


    ji yao quickly nodded and tried to push xiaotong¡¯s wrist away politely, saying, ¡°auntie. i really can¡¯t accept this.¡±


    ¡°alright.¡±


    xiaotong turned her body slightly, seamlessly handing the transfer document to jiang heng. then, like a magician, she pulled out a second transfer document from her bag and handed it to ji yao.


    ¡°my father paved the way for me by leaving me these things. he hoped i wouldn¡¯t become a wandering phoenix in other people¡¯s nests but rather establish roots like a chinese parasol tree,¡± xiaotong said, ¡°i¡¯ve disappointed his expectations, but over the years, i¡¯ve come to understand his intentions.¡±


    ¡°the future is full of uncertainty. us parents can¡¯t do too much for you, but we can only hope that you won¡¯t be troubled for your livelihood,¡± xiaotong continued, ¡°this is a long-term investment under my name. it doesn¡¯t yield much income, but it should suffice as your pocket money.¡±


    with the house already given to them, the investment seemed much milder. ji yao relaxed unintentionally and accepted the documents.


    while xiaotong was speaking, the boarding announcement was already playing on the airport¡¯s loudspeakers. so, she didn¡¯t say much more, just smiled, hugged each of them, and then turned to walk toward the boarding gate, holding amber¡¯s hand, slowly fading away into a life that was similar yet different from theirs.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t move forward, staying where he was, looking at xiaotong¡¯s departure. then, he remembered something, took out his phone, and sent a wechat message to xiaotong.


    ¡°don¡¯t worry mom,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°both he and i have a clear idea of what we want.¡±


    after sending the message, jiang heng didn¡¯t wait for xiaotong¡¯s reply. he locked his phone screen and put it in his pocket.


    ji yao hadn¡¯t noticed jiang heng¡¯s little action. he held the documents in his hand and only realized something was amiss after xiaotong had disappeared from sight.


    ¡°wait a minute, why does auntie have a plan b?¡± ji yao said in puzzlement, ¡°wasn¡¯t she too confident when she handed over those documents just now?¡±


    he looked down at the documents in his hand, pondering, ¡°and how come i accepted them? shouldn¡¯t i have politely declined her?¡±


    ¡°chinese people tend to compromise,¡± jiang heng said with a mischievous smile, ¡°for example, if you want to open a window in a room, no one will allow it. but if you suggest removing the roof, they will agree to open the window.¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    it seemed to make sense.


    as they walked out of the airport, the two of them bantered casually. ji yao had woken up very early that day, and his eyes were still half-closed. after a few playful exchanges, he settled down and walked along the edge of the tiles.


    ¡°where are we going now?¡± ji yao asked, ¡°are you taking me to the hospital first?¡±


    ¡°let¡¯s have a meal first,¡± jiang heng reached out to ruffle his hair and smiled, ¡°since you¡¯ve already taken the day off, let¡¯s not waste the whole morning. i¡¯ll also take you to the notary office, and we can settle our lifelong matter.¡±

 CH 74

    in the end, ji yao couldn¡¯t return to work at the hospital ahead of schedule.


    after the notarization was completed, jiang heng confidently moved into ji yao¡¯s apartment with his packed belongings, handing over the keys to his own apartment to the interior designer.


    the box containing the ¡°partnership documents¡± was brought along, finding its place on the tv cabinet in ji yao¡¯s living room, very conspicuous and with a strong presence. every time ji yao passed by the living room, he couldn¡¯t help but glance at it.


    the notarized certificate, along with other documents, was placed in a small box by jiang heng. he stared at the box for a long time, lost in thought about something.


    after a good half an hour, he finally extended his hand to brush away the non-existent dust on the box, adding a decorative lock that was more symbolic than practical.


    the next moment, he suddenly felt a weight on his back, and when he turned his head to look, he realized that ji yao had approached silently and embraced him from behind.


    ¡°why did you walk so quietly?¡± jiang heng chuckled. ¡°trying to sneak up on me?¡±


    ¡°you were so lost in thought and didn¡¯t notice me,¡± ji yao said, extending his arm to flick the lock on the box. he smiled and teased, ¡°what are you thinking about, are you planning something evil?¡±


    ¡°just thinking, what if you change your mind and leave me in the end? how will i protect my pitiful rights in this partnership?¡± jiang heng added. ¡°and what if your parents pressure me to break up with you? is this document enough to scare them off?¡±


    ji yao raised the corner of his lips, smiling faintly.


    perhaps for jiang heng, or perhaps for everyone, everything had to be ¡°traceable¡± for him to truly feel at ease.


    when the notarization was completed, ji yao and jiang heng had walked out of the notary office side by side. the notarized documents were held in jiang heng¡¯s hand, and the pages had already developed slight creases.


    ji yao knew at the time that jiang heng was far from as calm as he appeared to be.


    ¡°you worry too much,¡± ji yao muttered. ¡°we cut ties long ago. i suspect my dad has already removed me from the family register.¡±


    jiang heng remained silent, and he turned his head, gently capturing ji yao¡¯s lips in a kiss.


    ji yao had more complicated conflicts with his family than jiang heng did. he faced oppression and resistance with his father, and he bore the burden of victim-blaming with his mother. resolving these conflicts and pain was manageable, but the residual familial affection between them was more challenging.


    ji yao was not like jiang heng. due to his family environment, jiang heng had thicker emotional ties to his family. he enjoyed the love and longing that familial bonds brought, and without them, he didn¡¯t see any problems.


    but ji yao couldn¡¯t do that.


    as ge xing had said, ji yao couldn¡¯t cut off contact with his aging parents forever. over the years, he had lived in that family, suppressed but he was used to it. he couldn¡¯t truly cut off ties with his elderly parents. the current separation was just another form of avoidance.


    but avoidance was not a long-term solution. ji yao would gradually realize that there were not just two extremes in the world but more nuanced ways to balance relationships between them.


    jiang heng saw ji yao confused by the situation, so he intended to help him gradually repair the relationship, but he also believed that this was an opportunity for ji yao to heal slowly.


    ¡°i haven¡¯t asked you yet, how much wealth do you have?¡± ji yao tapped the small box and raised an eyebrow. ¡°i think i have the right to know.¡±


    ¡°combining movable and immovable assets, investments, and funds, around two hundred million,¡± jiang heng replied. ¡°most of it comes from my inheritance from jiang yi.¡±


    jiang yi¡¯s business had suffered a decline after the divorce, but the business that had thrived for twenty years in shanghai still had substantial assets. however, jiang heng didn¡¯t want to inherit his father¡¯s business, so he decided to sell the company, including its projects and production lines.


    jiang heng¡¯s feelings toward jiang yi were complicated, so aside from buying the apartment, he had deposited the remaining money in the bank and hadn¡¯t touched it since. he chose to start from scratch, being a self-made person.


    ¡°two hundred million¡­¡± ji yao murmured, taken aback. to shanghai¡¯s business elite, this might not amount to much, but to ji yao, it was a significant figure.


    his eyes widened as he looked at the box under the tv cabinet, as if he were staring at a hot potato.


    ji yao¡¯s tone wavered. ¡°what if i hire an assassin to kill you? i¡¯d become rich overnight.¡±


    ¡°please, don¡¯t,¡± jiang heng blinked innocently, almost sounding sincere. ¡°keep me alive. let me earn more for you. and besides, hiring an assassin for murder will earn you ten years or more in prison, i¡¯d advise you to think it over.¡±


    ji yao playfully pushed him and chuckled.


    jiang heng joined in the laughter and stood up. extending his hand, he pulled ji yao up from the floor.


    jiang heng said. ¡°shall we have lunch?¡±


    ¡°sure,¡± ji yao agreed. ¡°what should we eat? order takeout?¡±


    ¡°why order takeout?¡± jiang heng clapped his hands and rolled up his sleeves, heading to the kitchen. he naturally opened ji yao¡¯s refrigerator.


    ji yao had no cooking talent, but there were some emergency supplies in the fridge. jiang heng picked up two tomatoes and grabbed a bundle of noodles.


    his movements were skillful and natural, as if he had done this many times before. ji yao followed him into the kitchen.


    ¡°eggs are in the cupboard,¡± ji yao said.


    jiang heng bent down, found a fresh carton of eggs in the cupboard, and placed it on the countertop. together, they prepared to cook.


    ji yao watched as jiang heng effortlessly beat the eggs, asking, ¡°when did you become so skilled at this?¡±


    ¡°studying abroad in the uk, you have to learn to cook chinese food or you¡¯ll starve,¡± jiang heng explained. ¡°you know, most of the nearby restaurants were run by brits, each one with a unique style. afterward, i finally found an italian restaurant and ate there for a whole month.¡±


    ji yao nodded, listening to him while leaning against the partition door, his attention more on jiang heng than the cooking.


    ¡°what about¡ª¡± ji yao mumbled, ¡°when we¡¯re seventy and celebrating our birthdays, what flavor of cake should we have?¡±


    jiang heng was amused by ji yao¡¯s indirect way of seeking reassurance. he moved a few steps to the side, slicing tomatoes while smiling. ¡°we should have a cake i make. how about that?¡±

 CH 75

    after reuniting as a couple, neither jiang heng nor ji yao kept it a secret; they immediately informed their close friends.


    on that evening, jiang heng even posted a photo of them having dinner on his social media. not only did it clearly show two sets of bowls and chopsticks, but it also captured a glimpse of ji yao¡¯s wrist.


    on ji yao¡¯s fair wrist, he wore a wristwatch with a strap, and there was a slightly suggestive red mark on the outer side of the strap, hinting at something more.


    this photo created quite a stir, and jiang heng¡¯s old friends, who were aware of his situation, sent their blessings. even zhou qingbo, who had caught wind of the news early, sent a 200-yuan red envelope as a gesture of goodwill.


    as jiang heng enjoyed his meal, he occasionally glanced at his phone screen, smiling and responding to messages from friends.


    ¡°aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡± ji yao, having finished a bowl of soup, noticed that jiang heng was still engrossed in his phone. he couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°don¡¯t blame me if you get a stomachache later with no one to take care of you.¡±


    ¡°then i¡¯ll report you for domestic abuse,¡± jiang heng chuckled.


    ¡°you cheeky devil,¡± ji yao dismissed, clearly not buying into jiang heng¡¯s act. he muttered under his breath, ¡°same-sex marriage isn¡¯t even recognized in china yet, you know. you¡¯re not protected.¡±


    ¡°technically, it¡¯s still a marriage,¡± jiang heng replied confidently.


    ji yao was amused by jiang heng¡¯s casual response. just as he was about to say something, his phone chimed with a payment notification on alipay.


    ¡°¡­what¡¯s this?¡± ji yao¡¯s tone shifted, ¡°trying to shut me up with money?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s a gift,¡± jiang heng lowered his head, covering the hint of a smile at the corner of his lips with his soup bowl. he said matter-of-factly, ¡°according to tradition, we should split it evenly.¡±


    ji yao was initially puzzled, but he unlocked his phone, and before he could check the amount, his wechat exploded with messages from friends.


    ji yao painstakingly cleared two pages of notifications and then finally pieced together the situation from the messages.


    mutual friends of ji yao and jiang heng were all asking about the ¡°official announcement.¡± ji yao  sneakily glanced at jiang heng, propped up his phone, and pretended to send a message while discreetly opening jiang heng¡¯s social media post.


    the photo was still at the top, and jiang heng had captioned it with just seven words: ¡°reunion after a long separation, unexpected encounter.¡±


    ¡°reunion after a long separation¡± implied they had lost something and found it again, while ¡°unexpected encounter¡± suggested a sense of serendipity. jiang heng hadn¡¯t mentioned ji yao by name, but it felt like he had written it all between the lines.


    ji yao pursed his lips and couldn¡¯t help but secretly save a screenshot of the post to his own phone.


    he didn¡¯t ask jiang heng why he suddenly made such a high-profile announcement, but the next morning, before heading to work, ji yao went to the human resources department to update his emergency contact information.


    ¡°why do you suddenly need this?¡± the head of human resources, a young woman, stood up and, while searching for ji yao¡¯s file, asked curiously, ¡°is the department head conducting another information check? i didn¡¯t receive any notifications.¡±


    ¡°no,¡± ji yao smiled, leaning against her desk, and said, ¡°i¡¯m just updating it.¡±


    ji yao was from out of town, and when he first joined the hospital, he had just arrived in shanghai. he had no roots here, and at that time, he had also fallen out with his family. so, he had left the emergency contact section blank, only providing the hospital with an authorization letter for special circumstances.


    although he had since settled down in shanghai and made a few friends, that section had remained empty until he moved in with jiang heng. it was only then that he remembered to update it.


    the ink on the original form had faded a bit, and ji yao bent over, placing the sheet of paper on the table with a stack of documents. he carefully filled in jiang heng¡¯s name and contact information.


    the head of human resources had already opened the electronic update page and was leaning on her desk, watching him complete the entry. she asked with a grin, ¡°has doctor ji finally found a good friend?¡±


    ji yao replied with a casual ¡°yes¡± and handed her the pen. then he corrected himself, ¡°actually, it¡¯s my boyfriend.¡±


    publicly revealing one¡¯s sexual orientation in the workplace wasn¡¯t a smart choice, but just like when ji yao had chosen to come out in the past, occasionally acting a bit foolish wasn¡¯t a big deal when it came to special people.


    the young woman¡¯s eyes lit up, and she entered the new information into the system while playfully giving ji yao a thumbs up.


    ¡°don¡¯t worry; i¡¯ll keep it confidential for you,¡± she assured him.


    ¡°it¡¯s fine,¡± ji yao wasn¡¯t too concerned about this. he waved his hand dismissively and said, ¡°besides, over time, everyone will find out.¡±


    the hospital where ji yao worked was relatively large in shanghai, and he had seen all sorts of situations. even beyond same-sex relationships, he had encountered various ethically challenging cases. this small matter didn¡¯t cause any ripples in his department. only the old department head, who was somewhat traditional, had discreetly summoned ji yao to his office for a talk, reminding him to keep this information confidential to avoid unnecessary speculation among patients.


    ji yao understood and made the necessary promise, so the old department head didn¡¯t press the matter further.


    the interns in the general surgery department had recently completed their rotations and moved to new departments, giving ji yao and his team a bit of a break. however, jiang heng wasn¡¯t as fortunate. during xiaotong¡¯s visit to china, he had put some of his work on hold to spend time with her, and the case of li wen was still pending, awaiting a formal trial. so, jiang heng still had a lot on his plate.


    two days ago, li linghua informed jiang heng that there were new developments in zhou fang¡¯s case. as a result, jiang heng had to start contacting people and reviewing the case files once again.


    jiang heng was busy with his work, but he no longer worked overtime at the office. almost every evening when ji yao returned home from work, he would find jiang heng sitting on the living room sofa, dealing with work-related matters.


    ¡°maybe you should just work at the office,¡± ji yao suggested as he hung his coat by the door. he put on slippers and said, ¡°this posture must be tiring.¡±


    ji yao¡¯s apartment was designed for one person and was quite small, with only one bedroom and one living room. there was no study, so jiang heng had to work on the coffee table. however, the height difference between the coffee table and the sofa was not suitable for work, and ji yao could see that jiang heng was getting tired.


    ¡°that¡¯s not a good idea,¡± jiang heng replied without raising his head from his documents. ¡°if i don¡¯t come home after work, what¡¯s the point? it¡¯s not good for family harmony.¡±


    ¡°how about i get you a table for work?¡± ji yao suggested.


    ¡°forget it,¡± jiang heng said, leaning back on the sofa with his hand on the back of his neck. he looked at ji yao as he approached and continued, ¡°besides, we won¡¯t be living here once the renovations are done, so why bother?¡±


    ji yao neither agreed nor disagreed. he just walked over to jiang heng, who was busy working, and knelt on one knee on the sofa. he reached out and hooked jiang heng¡¯s eyeglasses frame.


    jiang heng blinked his eyes, allowing ji yao to remove his glasses. then, in the same position, he tilted his head up and engaged in a tender, lingering kiss.


    after the kiss, jiang heng extended his arm and wrapped it around ji yao¡¯s waist, pulling him closer.


    ¡°the trial is scheduled for next wednesday,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°would you like to attend as a witness?¡±

 CH 76

    ¡°a witness?¡± ji yao was puzzled and pointed at himself, asking, ¡°me?¡±


    ¡°yes, you,¡± jiang heng smiled and said, ¡°actually, there¡¯s been a development in zhou fang¡¯s case, so i wanted to ask if you¡¯d be willing to testify in court.¡±


    as ji yao listened, he became more confused. based on his previous understanding, zhou fang¡¯s case was completely different from liu qiang¡¯s. she had tampered with li wen¡¯s car on the day of the accident, intending to cause a fatal crash, rather than just delaying medical treatment. logically, they shouldn¡¯t need a doctor as a witness in this case.


    but jiang heng was a person who kept his professional and personal matters separate. unless it was necessary, he wouldn¡¯t go through the trouble just to involve ji yao in the proceedings.


    seeing ji yao¡¯s confusion, jiang heng released his hold on ji yao¡¯s waist slightly and reached for a document on the coffee table.


    ¡°the fact is that zhou fang tampered with the brakes on li wen¡¯s car, making it a clear-cut case of attempted murder,¡± jiang heng explained. ¡°but someone suggested that she apply for a third-party inspection agency to conduct a thorough examination of the car involved in the incident.¡±


    jiang heng had initially investigated zhou fang¡¯s case, and he was well aware of the crucial elements of the case. it had initially seemed like an open-and-shut case with a solid chain of evidence. besides liu qiang and zhou fang, the mechanic who had been an accomplice had also been successfully apprehended and brought to justice. they even obtained chat records proving zhou fang¡¯s involvement. it appeared that justice was within reach for li linghua. however, the problem arose with the results of the final inspection report.


    while it was true that zhou fang had tampered with the car li wen was driving at the time of the accident, the inspection report showed that li wen hadn¡¯t applied the brakes at all when the accident occurred.


    in other words, the root cause of li wen¡¯s accident wasn¡¯t the tampered brakes but rather li wen¡¯s own poor driving skills, which led to the accident and ultimately his fatal injuries.


    as a result, the case had become much more complex. li linghua had fainted upon hearing the news, unable to accept that ¡°attempted murder¡± had been reduced to ¡°attempted harm.¡±


    ¡°¡­impressive,¡± ji yao took a deep breath and said, ¡°so, it¡¯s gone from a potential life sentence to three years. who came up with this idea? that¡¯s quite cunning.¡±


    ¡°who else could it be?¡± jiang heng sighed in resignation. ¡°a lawyer.¡±


    ¡°but didn¡¯t she use the money she got from liu qiang to hire a hitman?¡± ji yao asked. ¡°where would she get the funds to hire such a skilled lawyer?¡±


    ¡°she got legal aid,¡± jiang heng explained. ¡°it¡¯s a highly experienced attorney, and i¡¯ve dealt with them before.¡±


    ¡°what¡¯s the point of me testifying then?¡± ji yao still didn¡¯t understand ¡°to prove that li wen was indeed injured due to the car accident¡­? it seems meaningless.¡±


    ¡°the surgical consent form,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°do you remember it?¡±


    of course, ji yao remembered. that form had nearly cost him dearly, and if jiang heng hadn¡¯t skillfully handled the situation, ji yao would have faced disciplinary action and significant financial penalties due to ¡°procedural irregularities.¡±


    ¡°i remember,¡± ji yao said. ¡°are you saying¡­ she intentionally signed that form, indicating malicious intent?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± jiang heng confirmed. ¡°we obtained her chat records with liu qiang, which clearly show that she was aware of li wen¡¯s hiv status.


    ¡°so, we plan to approach the case from this angle.¡± jiang heng said. ¡°li linghua knows she wronged you before, so she hasn¡¯t dared to approach you directly. she asked me to sound you out first.¡±


    ¡°of course,¡± jiang heng added. ¡°testifying isn¡¯t mandatory, and you have the freedom to decide.¡±


    ¡°freedom to decide?¡± ji yao raised an eyebrow. ¡°if i¡¯m this important in this case, can li linghua agree to give up this lead?¡±


    ¡°as the defense attorney, i also hope you¡¯ll lend a hand,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°however, you still have your own freedom to choose. if you really don¡¯t want to, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ji yao knelt on one knee on the sofa, looking down at jiang heng for a moment, seemingly weighing his options.


    jiang heng blinked innocently and earnestly at him. they stared at each other for a while, but in the end, ji yao couldn¡¯t contain his laughter.


    ¡°fine, i¡¯ll do it,¡± ji yao said. ¡°but i need to inform our hospital director first.¡±


    ¡°okay,¡± jiang heng seemed to have expected this response. he smiled and pushed his luck, asking, ¡°do you still resent her for falsely accusing you before?¡±


    ¡°she was also deceived,¡± ji yao said.


    there was a time when ji yao had resented li linghua for pushing him into a corner. back then, he had felt a chill in his heart, and even seeing jiang heng had seemed like encountering an enemy who couldn¡¯t tell right from wrong. but as time passed, ji yao gradually realized that li linghua had also been deceived just like him, and that sense of enmity disappeared.


    furthermore, although it was disrespectful to the deceased, ji yao sometimes wondered if this case hadn¡¯t brought him and jiang heng back together. if they hadn¡¯t developed a deeper connection, if ji yao hadn¡¯t demanded answers from jiang heng due to his doubts, maybe jiang heng wouldn¡¯t have impulsively left the bait for him to pursue him and fight for him, and ji yao wouldn¡¯t have taken the bait, slowly making his way back to jiang heng and erasing the mistakes of the past.


    in that case, their encounter at the bar and the hospital might have been their final connection, without the case they probably would have avoided each other, eventually drifting apart in the vast city, they would share the same sky above them but never cross paths again.


    after they got back together, ji yao sometimes thought about this possibility and couldn¡¯t help but feel a lingering fear and relief.


    ¡°besides, what would you do if i refused?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°me?¡± jiang heng thought for a moment and said, ¡°i would have to find other ways and evidence. we can¡¯t just drop the lawsuit.¡±


    ¡°well then,¡± ji yao slipped down from jiang heng and mumbled, ¡°you¡¯re always running around, working tirelessly, and it¡¯s at my expense.¡±


    ji yao raised an eyebrow and teasingly flicked jiang heng¡¯s chin.


    ¡°you see,¡± ji yao said, ¡°how important connections are. they can save you from a lot of trouble.¡±


    ¡°you¡¯re right,¡± jiang heng chuckled, playing along. ¡°you¡¯ve become my connection twice now.¡±


    ¡°twice?¡± ji yao paused, looking puzzled. ¡°when was the other time?¡±


    there was the time at the hospital, jiang heng thought.


    but he clearly didn¡¯t intend to reveal that to ji yao so easily, so he smiled and kissed ji yao before walking into the bedroom with the documents, leaving ji yao with a mysterious silhouette.


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    jiang heng enjoyed teasing ji yao with these little mysteries, and ji yao, curious yet helpless, couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself, ¡°this scoundrel.¡±


    he should be made to work overtime, ji yao thought, so he wouldn¡¯t have time for these little amusements all day long.


    however, despite his inner complaints, the next morning ji yao still went to see director hao to explain the situation.


    the case involving zhou fang had received negative media attention, and while ji yao didn¡¯t follow it closely, he had received occasional local news updates. especially after the trial date had been set, the case had made headlines again, bringing back the public¡¯s attention.


    since this case involved the hospital, ji yao didn¡¯t want to make a decision on his own. he decided to inform director hao first.


    ¡°are you sure you want to get involved again?¡± director hao furrowed his brow and said, ¡°you¡¯ve just managed to extricate yourself from this matter. if you inadvertently get involved again, it might not be worth the trouble.¡±


    ¡°i know,¡± ji yao replied. ¡°but the medical malpractice case is already resolved, and i¡¯m just going to testify as a witness.¡±


    ¡°you¡¯re still young and might not fully understand these matters,¡± director hao took off his reading glasses and earnestly advised, ¡°your case has been settled, but if someone with ill intentions decides to dig into this matter, anything can happen in the court of public opinion. your reputation might suffer, so you need to think it over carefully.¡±


    ji yao had considered this issue, but he felt that since jiang heng had asked him to testify, he should be fully prepared for it. he didn¡¯t think that jiang heng would push him into a difficult situation knowing the risks.


    ¡°i¡¯ve thought it through,¡± ji yao said, ¡°as long as it doesn¡¯t harm the hospital¡¯s reputation.¡±


    seeing that ji yao had made up his mind, director hao hesitated for a moment but didn¡¯t give him a definite answer. instead, he said, ¡°i¡¯ll talk to the hospital director. please wait here for a moment.¡±


    ji yao knew that this matter was of great importance and could potentially lead to public questioning of the hospital. he nodded to indicate that he understood.


    director hao poured him a glass of water and then left the office to discuss the situation with the hospital director.


    after half an hour, director hao returned and nodded as soon as he entered the room. ¡°the hospital director has agreed.¡±


    ¡°really?¡± ji yao¡¯s eyes lit up, and he stood up from the sofa, saying, ¡°please thank the hospital director for me.¡±


    ¡°the hospital director said that doctors treat patients to save lives, and testifying in a serious case is also a way to seek justice for someone,¡± director hao said, looking worried. ¡°but you need to be careful and not say anything that could cause trouble for yourself.¡±


    ¡°i understand,¡± ji yao said. ¡°you can rest assured.¡±


    ji yao had been to court once before, so he initially didn¡¯t think much of it. he thought that he would just tell the truth during the trial, and there was nothing to fear. however, on the day of the trial, he realized that the older generation had a saying, ¡°old ginger is hotter than young ginger,¡± meaning that experienced people were often wise. director hao¡¯s concerns were not without reason.


    zhou fang¡¯s case was different from ji yao¡¯s previous case. in principle, she could be charged with attempted murder, so the trial was held in a higher court from the beginning.


    the trial was scheduled for 9:00 am, and ji yao went to the courthouse with jiang heng. he was shocked by the media presence at the courthouse entrance.


    ¡°¡­why are there so many people?¡± ji yao exclaimed. ¡°are all these people going to enter and film inside?¡±


    there was a gathering of media outlets at the courthouse entrance, with around ten cameras present. ji yao squinted and noticed that apart from local stations, there were several influential online media outlets.


    before this, ji yao had only known that the case had a negative impact, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to escalate to this extent. he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous.


    ¡°they won¡¯t all go inside,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°only two official media outlets will enter to film. there won¡¯t be any media present during the trial, but the proceedings will be broadcast live.¡±


    ji yao let out a soft sigh and furrowed his brow. his gaze involuntarily drifted outside.


    ¡°why hasn¡¯t it died down?¡± ji yao muttered. ¡°it¡¯s been months.¡±


    the severity of the case and the ethical concerns, combined with the high public opinion of this case, have ignited the fire,¡± jiang heng explained. ¡°that¡¯s why it has attracted so much attention.¡±


    ¡°this case has dragged on for months,¡± ji yao said with a sigh.


    ¡°indeed, and it¡¯s a complex case,¡± jiang heng added.


    ji yao and jiang heng continued their conversation as they entered the courthouse, and they were soon settled in their respective places.


    witnesses were not allowed in the courtroom before they testified, so ji yao waited in a nearby lounge, expecting to be called in at any moment.


    it was a dull job, and cases involving loss of life were often intricate and tedious. ji yao initially tried to sit still and wait patiently, but after a while, he got bored and pulled out his phone to play a game.


    as for the other witnesses, ji yao didn¡¯t know who they were. however, after a couple of hours, they were called in one by one and didn¡¯t return. ji yao became anxious and couldn¡¯t help but lean against the door frame to look inside.


    unfortunately, the courtroom door was tightly closed, and he couldn¡¯t hear anything from inside.


    it wasn¡¯t until more than an hour later that ji yao received a notification to testify. he seemed to be jiang heng¡¯s last ¡°trump card,¡± and as he pushed open the door to enter the courtroom, the atmosphere inside was already tense.


    jiang heng wore silver half-frame glasses, and his collar was slightly open, tightened by his tie, giving him a neat appearance in his well-fitted suit.


    on a sheet of paper in front of him, there were densely written notes. li linghua sat in the spectator seats, already crying and leaning on a young woman for support as she struggled to catch her breath.


    zhou fang stood at the defendant¡¯s seat, eyes downcast, not saying a word, and she didn¡¯t even look at ji yao. instead, it was the defense lawyer who raised his head briefly to examine ji yao, and then smiled politely.


    ji yao quickly scanned the room, his heart pounding.


    ¡°witness number five,¡± the prosecutor said, ¡°on the day of the victim¡¯s car accident, he was brought to your hospital for treatment. during the treatment process, did the defendant sign a surgical consent form, yes or no?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± ji yao cleared his throat and replied, ¡°it was her.¡±


    ¡°did she exhibit any behavior to voluntarily disclose her identity or inform of the victim¡¯s medical condition during that time?¡± the prosecutor asked.


    ¡°no,¡± ji yao answered firmly. ¡°she didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    ¡°are you sure?¡±


    ¡°yes.¡±


    ¡°the testimonies of witness number five and witness number four corroborate each other, which lends credibility to their accounts,¡± the prosecutor concluded. ¡°therefore, we do not accept the defendant¡¯s defense claims.¡±


    ¡°we object,¡± the defense lawyer quickly responded. ¡°the defendant does not possess in-depth medical knowledge, and there may have been an honest mistake regarding the consequences of the treatment process. additionally, based on the lack of brake usage evidence on the vehicle, it can be inferred that the car accident was not directly related to my client.¡±


    ¡°the car accident is not related,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°but not offering assistance when one sees a life-threatening situation is also an issue.¡±


    jiang heng raised his hand to signal and continued, ¡°based on the chat records between witness number four and the defendant, it is clear that the defendant already knew in advance that the victim was going to participate in a racing event that day and was at the scene when witness number four was talking to the victim. given the practical possibility of fulfilling the notification obligation, the defendant neglected to warn the victim of the risks involved in racing, and allowed the victim to engage in racing activities despite knowing what would happen. this, in itself, constitutes a failure to provide a warning when there was a practical obligation to do so, directly resulting in the victim being placed in a dangerous situation.¡±


    on the opposite side, ji yao noticed the defense attorney furrowing his brow slightly and quickly flipping through the pages of the documents in his hand.


    ¡°furthermore,¡± jiang heng continued, ¡°after the accident, the defendant did not inform the medical staff of the victim¡¯s pathological risks, which is another form of inaction. in the absence of fulfilling the obligation to inform, the victim¡¯s death occurred due to medication errors and the worsening of the victim¡¯s condition, making it evident that the defendant¡¯s inaction is directly related to the victim¡¯s cause of death.¡±


    ¡°based on the above points,¡± jiang heng concluded, ¡°we request that the defendant be convicted of intentional manslaughter through inaction.¡±

 CH 77

    after giving his testimony, ji yao was directed to the spectator area to continue observing the trial.


    once relieved from the intense scrutiny of the courtroom, ji yao¡¯s nervousness began to ease. he wiped the cold sweat from his palms and took his seat.


    li linghua was seated in front of him, and ji yao stole a glance at her. his gaze inadvertently passed over li linghua¡¯s shoulder and landed on jiang heng.


    in a public prosecution case like this, even li linghua could only sit in the gallery. the plaintiff¡¯s bench in the civil litigation was occupied by jiang heng alone, making him seem somewhat isolated and outnumbered.


    however, jiang heng didn¡¯t show any signs of being overwhelmed or outnumbered. he had carefully organized his materials, neatly arranged on the table in front of him, and a list of evidence lay beneath his hand, with several items already crossed out.


    ji yao¡¯s heart rate returned to normal as he took a deep breath. finally, he had the chance to observe jiang heng for a while.


    when jiang heng had just uttered the words ¡°intentional manslaughter through inaction,¡± li linghua¡¯s emotions had clearly surged once more. she struggled to contain herself, leaning on li nan¡¯s shoulder, unable to stop her sobs. there were even moments when she had difficulty breathing and needed to use a portable oxygen tank.


    women who had lost their children in middle age were often met with empathy, and even though ji yao had some past grievances with li linghua, he couldn¡¯t help but feel pity upon witnessing her current state.


    the judge seemed to sense her pain as well. he glanced at li linghua a few times but did not request her to maintain silence.


    in contrast, jiang heng lowered his head slightly, attentively reviewing the documents in his hand without giving li linghua even a single glance.


    jiang heng held respect and sympathy for li linghua, but it was limited to that. he had never seen her as a pitiable, bereaved mother who had lost everything. therefore, he did not consider himself her savior.


    he was merely doing his job, striving to secure the best outcome for her from a legal standpoint.


    however, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but find this ¡°detached¡± side of jiang heng more attractive than the image of a ¡°champion of justice.¡±


    the defense attorney for the accused hadn¡¯t anticipated jiang heng¡¯s move. most of his preparations had been focused on countering the charge of ¡°attempted murder.¡± now, jiang heng had suddenly introduced a new element, catching the opposing side off guard.


    however, the experienced defense attorney quickly regained his composure and returned to his usual pace.


    the case was complex, and it had garnered significant media attention. the judge proceeded with great caution, calling for three adjournments to review the evidence during the proceedings.


    during the several hours of recess, jiang heng¡¯s phone rang continuously.


    li linghua had initially intended to make the case as public as possible and had engaged various media outlets. however, once public opinion began to take hold, it was challenging for her to manage. consequently, she had handed over full control to jiang heng.


    jiang heng had been busy during the entire trial, and ji yao could hear him answering calls in the adjacent room while passing by with a paper cup. jiang heng¡¯s voice had grown hoarse from the continuous phone conversations.


    ji yao hesitated for a moment while holding the paper cup but ultimately couldn¡¯t resist. he turned and fetched a glass of water, bringing it into the room.


    in the midst of his busy schedule, jiang heng took the glass with a nod of thanks and quickly drank the water.


    ¡°how¡¯s everything, any bad news?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°it¡¯s still within manageable limits,¡± jiang heng replied. he was in the courtroom, and he couldn¡¯t be too close to ji yao. maintaining a polite distance of about one meter, he continued, ¡°at least public opinion is leaning towards li linghua¡¯s side.¡±


    ji yao nodded in understanding, not saying much. he held the paper cup that jiang heng had just used and, along with the used tissue, disposed of them together.


    jiang heng had prepared extensively, and the defense attorney was no pushover. the case continued from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm before a verdict was finally reached.


    the judge delivered the verdict, announcing that jiang heng¡¯s argument of ¡°intentional manslaughter through inaction¡± had been effective. zhou fang had twice had the opportunity to save li wen from danger but had shown indifference, demonstrating malicious intent. she was also convicted of indirect intentional harm, and the multiple charges were sentenced to ten years and eight months in total.


    while this outcome may not have provided complete closure for li linghua, it was satisfying to some extent.


    just before the final verdict, ji yao had stepped out briefly. when he returned, the verdict had already been announced.


    zhou fang was taken away by court officers, and jiang heng rose from his seat. he appeared somewhat unsteady on his feet.


    the defense attorney waited at the door, and when he saw jiang heng coming out, he shook hands with him.


    ¡°well done,¡± he said.


    ¡°you flatter me,¡± jiang heng politely responded. ¡°it was a close call.¡±


    after the court session, the atmosphere between the two lawyers became less tense. the opposing attorney smiled kindly, patted jiang heng on the shoulder, and then walked away.


    ji yao saw them finish their conversation, and jiang heng put away his phone. he approached jiang heng.


    ¡°the verdict is out online already,¡± ji yao said. ¡°do you want to check it out?¡±


    the entire trial had been live streamed, and the verdict had appeared on the internet during the announcement. someone had captured those minutes and posted them online. ji yao briefly skimmed through it and was surprised to find that there were quite a few discussions about jiang heng.


    ¡°many people are praising you,¡± ji yao said with a smile. ¡°you might become famous.¡±


    ¡°are you jealous?¡± jiang heng teased, and then he added, ¡°anyway, enough of that. i¡¯m tired after a day of the trial; my head is throbbing.¡±


    online public opinion ultimately had nothing to do with jiang heng, and he didn¡¯t care much about what people were saying. as long as he had done his job in court and upheld the law, he was satisfied.


    ¡°nevertheless, you performed exceptionally well,¡± ji yao said. ¡°and you looked especially handsome.¡±


    jiang heng chuckled.


    ¡°really?¡± jiang heng glanced at ji yao with a playful look. ¡°someone once regarded me as an intimidating, unreasonable, evil lawyer.¡±


    ji yao thought, ¡°still holding a grudge,¡±


    at that time, ji yao had been somewhat worried upon seeing jiang heng, as he had been haunted by nightmares of jiang heng cross-examining him relentlessly.


    however, over time, his perception of jiang heng had changed. jiang heng no longer seemed as hostile as before, he began to picture him as a mountain hidden in the mist¡ªsteady, calm, capable of hurling rocks at enemies when needed, and serving as an impregnable fortress against a thousand foes.


    ji yao¡¯s imagination reached its peak at this moment, and he couldn¡¯t help but picture a cartoonish version of jiang heng as a mountain tossing stones. he couldn¡¯t hold back his laughter, which resonated in the room.


    ¡°why are you laughing?¡± jiang heng asked.


    ¡°you know, i just realized that despite everything, i still have a clear understanding of your abilities,¡± ji yao said with a grin. ¡°you should be happy because even during our break-up, my perception of you remains uninfluenced by external forces.¡±


    jiang heng snorted and said, ¡°sly reasoning.¡±


    ji yao then took out his phone from his pocket, tapped it a few times, and then handed it to jiang heng.


    jiang heng glanced down and found two pre-booked plane tickets.


    on march 6th, from shanghai to tokyo.


    ¡°jiang heng,¡± ji yao said almost simultaneously. his voice whispered in jiang heng¡¯s ear, ¡°take me to hokkaido again.¡±

 CH 78

    ¡°revisiting old places¡± was something ji yao had mentioned once before.


    but in jiang heng¡¯s understanding, this wasn¡¯t the kind of trip that you could just decide to go on casually. ji yao¡¯s work was demanding, and he often felt stretched thin. he cherished his weekends and even struggled to find time for a full week off.


    however, the booked flight tickets on ji yao¡¯s phone were undeniable. the dates and flight details were all there, leaving jiang heng no room for doubt.


    moreover, ji yao had chosen a specific date that held significance. it was the same date as their previous trip to hokkaido, and it seemed like a strong commitment to ¡°start over.¡±


    holding the phone, jiang heng remained silent for a few seconds before letting out a resigned smile.


    ¡°aren¡¯t you busy?¡± jiang heng asked. ¡°can you take time off?¡±


    he felt somewhat embarrassed that, over the years, he had become more realistic compared to the romantic notions of the past.


    ji yao had found himself in impulsive situations many times. he was easily influenced by the atmosphere in certain settings, often making quick decisions on the spot. however, he had matured somewhat in the past six years, becoming more grounded and knowing that some preparation was needed before acting on impulse.


    ¡°i just called my boss and got it approved,¡± ji yao replied. ¡°i¡¯ll take extra shifts during the lunar new year. with the weekends and some annual leave, it works out perfectly.¡±


    during the lunar new year, hospitals were usually quite busy, but this year happened to coincide with several of ji yao¡¯s colleagues either getting married or visiting family. staffing was short, and ji yao¡¯s willingness to take on extra holiday shifts was a big relief to hao yu, the head of the department.


    ¡°i might have to spend new year¡¯s eve at the hospital,¡± ji yao said, ¡°but it¡¯s okay. you¡¯ll be with me, right?¡±


    for jiang heng, it didn¡¯t matter much. his sense of ceremony had always been more about the people he was with rather than the occasion itself. whether they spent the evening in a hospital lounge eating takeout or had a candlelit dinner at home didn¡¯t make much difference to him.


    however, he couldn¡¯t resist teasing ji yao a little. ¡°isn¡¯t it against the rules to have family members at the workplace?¡±


    ¡°well, technically, yes,¡± ji yao replied, tilting his head to give jiang heng a mischievous look. ¡°so, i¡¯ll just tell them that you were crying and throwing a tantrum at home, refusing to spend the new year without me, and you locked the door to prevent me from going to work.¡±


    jiang heng hadn¡¯t expected ji yao to turn things around so quickly. he had a knack for twisting words and making it seem like jiang heng was the one causing trouble. jiang heng couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°in that case, i¡¯ll pass,¡± jiang heng said playfully. ¡°i don¡¯t want to ruin dr. ji¡¯s professional image. i¡¯ll just work overtime myself.¡±


    although zhou fang¡¯s case had been resolved, online public opinion was still active. her decision to appeal had caused a stir on social media. however, when jiang heng thought about it that night, he realized that the current sentencing was already quite cautious, and the probability of a retrial seemed low.


    ji yao didn¡¯t pay much attention to this, as his testimony had already been filed. he believed that this matter was no longer related to him. however, when he returned to work the next day, he was greeted by a large red banner at the entrance of his office.


    the banner was about half a person tall, with a red background and gold characters that read ¡°the compassion of a doctor¡± and ji yao¡¯s name.


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    he stared at the banner in silence for a full half minute, wracking his brain but failing to come up with an answer.


    so, he gave up searching for an answer and asked straightforwardly, ¡°who sent this? why isn¡¯t there a signature?¡±


    ¡°it was sent by ms. li linghua,¡± hao yu said as he walked out of the tea room with a tea tray in hand. he came over to join the commotion with a smile on his face and said, ¡°she had it delivered by a courier this morning, specifically addressed to you. dr. ji, you¡¯ve done well this time.¡±


    ji yao had more questions, but he couldn¡¯t figure out the purpose behind the banner. checking his phone, he realized that li linghua had given an exclusive interview last night.


    in the interview, li linghua had stopped the reporter, claiming she had a few more words to say. with her fingers tightly intertwined, she appeared hesitant and remorseful. it seemed like she had contemplated for a long time before speaking.


    ¡°in fact, i want to apologize to someone,¡± li linghua had said in the interview. she didn¡¯t mention ji yao by name but expressed regret for falsely accusing someone and acknowledged the gratitude for their willingness to testify.


    ¡°i believed what others said and caused harm to the doctor,¡± li linghua said. ¡°i deeply apologize for my actions and feel ashamed. this incident has made me reflect deeply. in the future, i am willing to establish a fund to help those who have suffered unjustly in doctor-patient disputes.¡±


    the interview was concise, and the video ended there. ji yao blinked a few times, somewhat caught off guard.


    however, the public reaction to li linghua¡¯s interview was mostly positive and reasonable. medical-patient relationships became a trending topic once again, and ji yao skimmed through the discussions on social media. it appeared that the sentiment was favorable and rational.


    ji yao didn¡¯t hold a grudge against li linghua anymore. if this incident could open up a new channel of communication in the strained doctor-patient relationship, it would be a good thing for everyone.


    it seemed that hao yu shared the same sentiment. he was excited and looked at ji yao with shining eyes.


    ¡°the hospital director has heard about this, and he has a high opinion of you,¡± hao yu said. ¡°work hard and keep it up.¡±


    ji yao wasn¡¯t sure what ¡°high opinion¡± meant in this context, but for the moment, he decided not to dwell on it. instead, he enjoyed the enthusiasm that came with it.


    ¡°high opinion¡± or not, the banner had brought some tangible benefits. for instance, he received a bonus of two thousand yuan, which excited him like a child. jiang heng was the first person he wanted to share the news with, so he sent a wechat message with a picture of the white envelope he held in his hand.


    ¡°it¡¯s great,¡± jiang heng replied. ¡°it looks pretty thick.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s two thousand yuan,¡± ji yao said generously. ¡°so, what do you want? i can fulfill a small request for you.¡±


    jiang heng chuckled at ji yao¡¯s enthusiasm. he stood up from the sofa, walked to the window, and gazed down at the plaza below. in the not-so-distant square, lunar new year festivities were in full swing. a large bunch of balloons swayed in the air, resembling a bouquet of flowers basking in the sun.


    in his romantic relationships, jiang heng rarely asked for things. he wasn¡¯t good at it and didn¡¯t know how to express his needs. at times, he would rather push the relationship to its limits than utter the words and say what he wanted.


    the rhythm of controlling a romantic relationship was straightforward, but making requests was challenging. however, at this moment, he felt an inexplicable urge to make a request.


    ¡°mmmh, let¡¯s see,¡± jiang heng said, his gaze fixed on the beautiful bouquet of colorful balloons. he chuckled softly. ¡°how about giving me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers?¡±

 CH 79

    that evening, ji yao returned later than usual.


    jiang heng wiped his hands, covered the pot, and for the sixth time, checked the time on his phone, contemplating whether to call ji yao to ask if he was working overtime. just then, he heard the lock on the door being twisted open from the outside.


    a rush of cold air flowed in through the wide-open door, immediately dispelling the warmth inside the room. as jiang heng stepped out of the kitchen, he saw ji yao, brimming with excitement, gazing at him.


    ji yao looked unusually enthusiastic, his eyes sparkling brightly. his right hand was hidden behind his back, holding a large bouquet of champagne roses that couldn¡¯t be concealed by his body, leaving only a few ¡°stray¡± roses peeping out from behind his waist.


    ¡°guess what,¡± ji yao said, ¡°i¡¯ve brought you something special.¡±


    having a wish casually fulfilled was one thing, and jiang heng was mentally prepared for it in advance, but seeing ji yao¡¯s excitement, his eyes lit up, and a small spark of joy ignited within him.


    his eyes softened, and his gaze, which had been sharp moments ago, turned into a warm and affectionate sea. his entire being radiated a tender and delightful atmosphere, and it even made ji yao feel happy.


    with his improved mood, jiang heng was willing to indulge in some playful banter with ji yao, involving their shared little secrets. he raised an eyebrow and playfully said, ¡°let me guess¡­ did you buy me chocolates?¡±


    ji yao kicked off his shoes, walked into the room barefoot, and with a mischievous smile, shook his head.


    ¡°guess again,¡± ji yao said.


    jiang heng, puzzled, asked, ¡°it can¡¯t be flowers, can it?¡±


    ¡°you guessed it!¡± ji yao exaggeratedly stood up straight, brought the bouquet from behind him to the front, and like a domineering ceo, thrust the flowers into jiang heng¡¯s arms, saying with a grin, ¡°for you, my love!¡±


    the light-colored champagne roses in his hand emitted a faint fragrance. jiang heng lowered his head to take a look and noticed that this bouquet of flowers was completely different from the one ji yao had sent him through express delivery when they were in the same city. these roses were all fresh, with no withered petals. they appeared to be of similar size, and each one had cool water droplets sprinkled on them, indicating careful selection.


    jiang heng had lived for so long, and his ¡°wishes¡± had never been taken to heart like this. he held the bouquet tightly in his hands and wanted to react with an exaggerated expression of surprise, then say some flirtatious words to lighten the mood, just like before. however, when he opened his mouth, nothing came out.


    his chest felt as if it had been filled by this bouquet of flowers, with no room for anything else. for a moment, jiang heng¡¯s chest heaved, his mind went momentarily blank, and he instinctively hugged the flowers tightly.


    ¡°do you like them?¡± ji yao asked with a smile. ¡°i spent quite some time choosing them.¡±


    ji yao also didn¡¯t know what he was so excited about, but ever since jiang heng had mentioned his ¡°request,¡± it seemed like his dopamine levels had been in a constant state of excitement.


    ¡°it¡¯s beautiful,¡± jiang heng said after a while. ¡°thank you.¡±


    ¡°you like it, and you can have more in the future, so you can try making requests a few more times,¡± ji yao said earnestly. ¡°i¡¯ll do my best to fulfill each request.¡±


    getting closer, ji yao suddenly lost his reservations, and with no inhibitions, he took a step forward, pressing jiang heng against the wall. he extended his arm to pin jiang heng¡¯s hand to the wall behind him and said, ¡°you should tell me if you want something, otherwise¡ªmmph!¡±


    ji yao¡¯s words were cut off because jiang heng had kissed him.


    that day, jiang heng was unusually daring, using his tongue to gently part ji yao¡¯s lips and exploring until he grabbed the hand ji yao had tried to pull back, intertwining their fingers.


    before ji yao could finish his sentence, he was kissed, and he suddenly felt short of breath. instinctively, he tilted his head backward to avoid jiang heng, but he was held in place.


    jiang heng¡¯s tongue swept across his mouth, and ji yao let out a muffled moan. his spine tingled with a sense of numbness, and even the corners of his eyes turned slightly red.


    after a while, the intense kiss left him weak in the waist and legs, and he couldn¡¯t help but press closer to jiang heng. jiang heng scooped him up, and with a smile, bit his lip.


    ¡°i¡­i¡¯ll ask for more things in the future,¡± jiang heng said, his eyes softening. ¡°i¡¯ll also accept suggestions.¡±

 CH 80

    the chain reaction caused by that bouquet of flowers was even greater than ji yao had expected. jiang heng was not only happy for many days, but he also specially bought vases, divided the bouquet into several vases, and carefully nurtured them.


    however, fresh flowers could only last for about eight or nine days at most. over time, the petals inevitably withered. ji yao was afraid that jiang heng would be reluctant to let them go, so he bought another bouquet of flowers for him.


    ¡°can your salary handle such expenses?¡± jiang heng chuckled and said ¡°be careful not to overspend, or you¡¯ll be drinking plain water and eating steamed buns by the end of the month.¡±


    ¡°then what should i do?¡± ji yao leaned back on the sofa, lazily holding a tablet while looking at some information. hearing this, he lowered the tablet, revealing his eyes and teasing, ¡°some people carry a small spray bottle every day and water their flowers like they¡¯re their babies. i¡¯m not afraid the flowers will wither; i¡¯m more concerned about someone feeling bad secretly.¡±


    ji yao rarely found an opportunity to tease jiang heng, so jiang heng couldn¡¯t refute ji yao¡¯s words and he could only shake his head helplessly and admit defeat.


    ¡°or¡­¡­?¡± ji yao turned over and let the tablet slide down from his chest. he leaned against the back of the sofa, propping up his head, and smiled at jiang heng. ¡°how about you open a flower shop? we invest and profit together. you can¡¯t accuse me of wasting money then.¡±


    ¡°give me a break.¡± jiang heng couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°i don¡¯t have that kind of talent.¡±


    if they followed ji yao¡¯s ¡°investment plan¡± where he came up with ideas and they implemented them, jiang heng suspected that within five years, they would both fall from the middle class back to the working class.


    ¡°well, you think of something then,¡± ji yao said as he unlocked his tablet and confidently added, ¡°until you come up with a solution, i¡¯ll keep buying them for you.¡±


    ji yao had a subconscious desire to compensate jiang heng, perhaps stemming from jiang heng¡¯s imperfect childhood or their previous failed relationship, but whichever it was, ji yao didn¡¯t think it was a bad attitude. when he was younger and less mature, he was easily deceived by jiang heng¡¯s ¡°mature and elite¡± facade, so now that he had finally discovered his ¡°true self,¡± he was willing to seize the opportunity to make jiang heng happier.


    although jiang heng enjoyed these small and continuous surprises, he was a little wary of ji yao¡¯s monthly salary. so, after thinking hard for a week, just before the second bouquet of flowers withered, he brought home an empty flower pot.


    that day, ji yao happened to have a day off. when jiang heng entered the house, ji yao had just finished pouring water from the kitchen and was coming out. he was startled by the sight, thinking that jiang heng had lost his mind and wanted to replant the bouquet of flowers.


    ¡°just a friendly reminder,¡± ji yao said cautiously, ¡°cut flowers don¡¯t have roots.¡±


    ¡°this is a jasmine plant.¡± jiang heng placed the flowerpot on the sunny balcony, stood up straight, and clapped his hands. ¡°consistency is key. let¡¯s go with this one from now on.¡±


    ji yao walked over with a glass of water and noticed a small card leaning beside the flowerpot with the number ¡°1¡± written on it.


    jiang heng knelt down on one knee, touched the card, and smiled, ¡°how about we make a bet?¡±


    ¡°a bet on what?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°a bet on when it will sprout,¡± jiang heng said with a smile. ¡°if it sprouts on an odd-numbered day, you win, and i¡¯ll fulfill one of your wishes. if it sprouts on an even-numbered day, i win, and you fulfill one of my wishes.¡±


    ji yao teased him for being childish, but he couldn¡¯t help but crouch down and consider the situation of when the plant would sprout and the wishes they would have to fulfill.


    knowing jiang heng¡¯s personality, he would definitely prepare some commemorative surprises during the days when this plant sprouted and bloomed. it might be a candlelit dinner, a newly opened bottle of wine, or tickets to see two obscure movies.


    this anticipation was quietly hidden in the unknown days ahead, like a small treasure scattered in the river of time, making ji yao eager to explore it early while also waiting for the slow and steady flow.


    ¡°let¡¯s raise it as our child,¡± jiang heng suggested, ¡°should we give it a name?¡±


    ji yao gave jiang heng a disdainful look, stood up, and walked away with his glass, as if he found him childish.


    jiang heng raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and used the excuse of needing to work to enter the bedroom. when he came out three hours later, someone had secretly written a name on the blank name card next to the flowerpot.


    jiang heng stood by the flowerpot, looking at the two words, ¡°heng heng,¡± written on it, feeling both amused and exasperated.


    the germination period for jasmine seeds was seven to ten days, but this particular jasmine seemed to be taking its time. ji yao watered it regularly at the same time every day, but after more than half a month, there was still no sign of it sprouting.


    ¡°maybe it just won¡¯t sprout at all?¡± ji yao squatted by the flowerpot, touched the card on top, and said suspiciously, ¡°jiang heng, could you have been scammed?¡±


    jiang heng obviously couldn¡¯t accept such baseless speculative accusations. he closed the packed suitcase, zipped it up, took a few steps in this direction, and bent over to pick up ji yao.


    ¡°you have to give it some time,¡± jiang heng smiled and said, ¡°coming into this world is an important decision; you have to let it think it over.¡±


    jiang heng said this as he put his hand on ji yao¡¯s shoulder, turned him around, and pushed him into the bedroom.


    ¡°change your clothes,¡± jiang heng urged, ¡°hurry or we¡¯ll miss the flight.¡±


    because ji yao¡¯s vacation was only for a week, their schedule was tight. they were heading to hokkaido that afternoon. there was only one direct flight from shanghai to tokyo each day, and if they missed it, they would have to delay until the next day during the layover.


    ji yao was pushed into the bedroom, and only then did he realize that jiang heng had already packed his clothes, neatly laid out on the bed.


    ji yao didn¡¯t hesitate to ask jiang heng to leave the room. he took off his home clothes and tossed them aside, then bent down to pick up the sweater.


    jiang heng was half-leaning, looking at the second suitcase, wondering if there was anything missing. he happened to notice ji yao changing clothes in his peripheral vision, so he couldn¡¯t help but turn around and give him a quick glance.


    ji yao immediately sensed the gaze behind him. he continued to change his clothes, then turned to look at jiang heng, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°what are you looking at?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°i¡¯m looking at how sexy you are,¡± jiang heng quickly replied.


    a smile tugged at the corner of ji yao¡¯s lips, but he quickly suppressed it and said seriously, ¡°you¡¯ve seen me plenty of times before.¡±


    jiang heng stood up and walked toward him, wrapping his arms around ji yao from behind, his hands on ji yao¡¯s waist, and he reached into the sweater for a moment.


    ¡°what are you implying?¡± jiang heng asked with a sly smile, ¡°don¡¯t you want to hear some sweet words from me?¡±


    ji yao was pressed forward by his weight, and he reached out to grab the bedside table to steady himself. his neck tingled where jiang heng touched, and he couldn¡¯t help but arch his back. little did he know, jiang heng continued to be affectionate, resting his chin on ji yao¡¯s neck and licking his earlobe.


    this was ji yao¡¯s sensitive spot, and he let out a soft gasp, trying to gently push jiang heng away.


    ¡°you¡¯ll always be sexy to me,¡± jiang heng whispered softly, gently nibbling ji yao¡¯s earlobe with his teeth. he said in a low voice, ¡°worth admiring multiple times.¡±


    ji yao didn¡¯t know if he was affected by jiang heng¡¯s actions or words, but he felt his ears burning and blushing, even without looking in the mirror.


    ¡°okay, but i have to get ready jiang heng ?¡± ji yao said in irritation, giving jiang heng a gentle nudge. ¡°or else we¡¯ll miss the flight.¡±


    jiang heng chuckled softly, maintaining his posture, and reached forward, opening the bedside drawer and fumbling around for a bit before holding a small acrylic box in his hand.


    ji yao was held in his arms and could see what was in his hand when he lowered his head ¨C the coin that had once determined their ¡°fate¡± lay quietly in the box, trembling slightly with jiang heng¡¯s movements.


    this coin was originally placed on jiang heng¡¯s bedside table, but when ji yao saw it, it made his neck tingle, and he couldn¡¯t help but stuff it back deep into a drawer.


    ¡°i almost forgot,¡± jiang heng said, finally releasing ji yao and smiling. ¡°i need to bring it with me.¡±


    since they had reconciled up to now, jiang heng hadn¡¯t told ji yao that he had secretly booked the same guesthouse they had visited six years ago. the guesthouse was still under the same owner, without any renovations, and everything looked almost the same as it did six years ago.


    ji yao felt as if he had been burned when he saw the coin and quickly averted his gaze, clearing his throat a couple of times to cover it up, then pushed away jiang heng¡¯s arms and went to change his clothes.


    jiang heng watched him with interest for a while but couldn¡¯t resist tossing the small box containing the coin into the air and catching it again. he then placed it in the suitcase.


    ji yao had sharp eyes and couldn¡¯t help but take a peek into the suitcase as jiang heng put it away. he saw that next to the acrylic box, there was also a box of condoms, the brand they both used to like.


    ji yao¡¯s gaze lingered on that small side pocket for a moment, but the next second, his vision was abruptly cut off¡ªthe suitcase lid was closed by jiang heng.

 CH 81

    everything seemed no different from six years ago.


    hokkaido had just experienced a drop in temperature, and the snow on the ground was even thicker than six years ago. the luggage left deep tracks on the road, and the travelers¡¯ footsteps made a crisp, creaking sound in the snow.


    the street was brightly lit, with clean and bright light strips sticking to the shop windows. small snowflakes drifted down from the sky, melting into the warm yellow glow.


    however, the traveler brochures that were once handed out six years ago had been replaced by concise qr code links, and there were slight rust spots on the corner of the station sign, making it look weathered.


    ji yao took a deep breath, and the cold, moist air flowed into his chest through his throat. the warm and gentle streetlights lined up along the road, spreading across the vast expanse of snow outside. he looked around, feeling that everything he could see was both unfamiliar and familiar.


    across the street, a little girl was chasing a small dog, and ji yao found it amusing. he wanted to take out his phone to capture the moment, but before he could focus, an arm suddenly appeared around his waist, gently pulling him backward.


    ji yao staggered a step and fell into the person¡¯s arms. his finger accidentally brushed the shutter button, leaving behind a blurry photo.


    ¡°yao.¡±


    ji yao instinctively turned around, and his gaze met the smiling eyes of jiang heng.


    in the frame of the camera, the captured moment happened to coincide with a falling snowflake.


    ¡°what are you looking at?¡± jiang heng tilted his head playfully and looked at ji yao¡¯s phone screen.


    the little girl had already disappeared around the corner, leaving only the ethereal lights in the photo. jiang heng was captivated by the falling snowflake in the picture, so he reached out and tapped on the save button for ji yao.


    ¡°it¡¯s quite nice, you took a good shot,¡± jiang heng said as he straightened up and handed ji yao a warm coffee.


    ji yao naturally exchanged his phone for the coffee. he lowered his eyelashes and held the coffee bottle for a while, then gently touched jiang heng¡¯s cold face with the back of his hand.


    ¡°are you cold?¡± ji yao asked.


    jiang heng shook his head helplessly.


    everything was so similar to six years ago, even the temperature of the coffee bottle. however, this time, jiang, couldn¡¯t be as cool as he was six years ago. ji yao, was afraid that jiang heng¡¯s delicate stomach would catch a cold in the icy weather, so he bundled him up tightly before leaving, even with extra layers of scarves.


    ¡°where should we go first?¡± ji yao asked. ¡°for dinner? just to be clear, you can¡¯t eat raw food.¡±


    ¡°i know,¡± jiang heng replied. he took off his right glove, naturally held ji yao¡¯s hand and tucked it into his own pocket, then pulled the suitcase and led ji yao across the street.


    ¡°let¡¯s first drop off our luggage,¡± jiang heng said.


    the warmth from their skin contact continuously transmitted familiar body heat. ji yao walked alongside jiang heng, his fingers couldn¡¯t help but move slightly.


    the palms of their hands soon became slightly sweaty from the firm grip, and jiang heng, who couldn¡¯t control ji yao¡¯s fidgeting, simply took ji yao¡¯s hand and firmly interlocked their fingers, holding him in the palm of his hand.


    ¡°hold on tight,¡± jiang heng said with a smile. ¡°i won¡¯t go looking for you if you get lost.¡±


    the last time they came to hokkaido was six years ago, but ji yao¡¯s memories had not been completely buried by the trivialities of daily life.  he followed jiang heng for a while until they reached an alley with wooden buildings. it was as if he had finally confirmed something, and he turned to look at jiang heng.


    jiang heng sensed ji yao¡¯s gaze from the corner of his eye but pretended not to notice. he led ji yao into the alley.


    in the six years that had passed, the town had undergone some redevelopment. there was now an edo-style alley outside the traditional hot spring inn that wasn¡¯t there before. however, the overall layout of the buildings remained unchanged, and the traces of the past could still be vaguely seen.


    it was now 9:30 in the evening, and red paper lanterns had been hung on both sides of the narrow alley. the lanterns depicted simple and abstract asakusa patterns, and within the transparent paper, the ancient candles swayed gently with the night breeze.


    ¡°what about that shop¡­¡± ji yao hesitated for a moment and asked, ¡°is it still open?¡±


    jiang heng nodded.


    ¡°it¡¯s open,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°i asked earlier, and even though business hasn¡¯t been as good as before in recent years, the landlady said they would keep it open.¡±


    at the end of the alley, the entrance to the hot spring inn was marked by a special lantern. their inn still had no signboard, and a young and unfamiliar waiter was waiting outside. he approached them from a distance and took jiang heng¡¯s suitcase.


    ¡°welcome,¡± he said in broken english. ¡°guests of east garden.¡±


    for some reason, ji yao¡¯s heart suddenly started pounding. he held jiang heng¡¯s hand and followed the waiter into the inn. they walked through the familiar dry landscape garden, and as they opened the door, they saw an elderly woman standing behind the counter, smiling and greeting the two of them.


    ¡°welcome,¡± the woman said. ¡°guests from afar.¡±


    everything in this inn remained the same as it was six years ago, including the layout of the floor and the style of the lanterns. even the marks on the pillar to the right when entering the room were exactly the same as six years ago.


    at that moment, ji yao suddenly felt like he was standing in the past.


    the scenes of the past suddenly reappeared in his heart. he knew that next, the waiter would take their luggage to the east garden, jiang heng would step forward to chat with the landlady of the inn, and then, in the next moment after handing over their documents, jiang heng would turn around, take his hand, and lead him.


    it was as if time and fate had responded to his heart. in the next moment, ji yao saw jiang heng at the counter turn around, extend a hand to him, and smile at him.


    ¡°let¡¯s go, yao,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°the landlady is going to take us to our room.¡±


    ji yao felt like he had returned to the starting point of everything, as if he had never left this place.


    in the dim light, he couldn¡¯t control himself from reaching out, taking jiang heng¡¯s hand, and then walking together through the courtyard towards the rooms on the east side.


    there were no other guests in the inn this time, and it was all quiet along the way. several courtyards had their doors locked, shrouded in darkness inside, except for the entrance to the east garden, where a lantern was lit.


    the waiter had already placed their luggage in the room in advance. jiang heng hung the room key by the door but didn¡¯t turn on the light. instead, he closed the door behind them.


    in the darkness of the night, everything was just vague outlines. the door to the courtyard was wide open, and the warm mist, accompanied by the cold wind, blew into the room, lifting a few withered bamboo leaves on the balcony.


    everything seemed peaceful and stable. after a moment, someone in the darkness sighed lightly. then, at the edge of the dim outline, there was a moment of blurriness, and two cold lips met, igniting a warm and lingering kiss.


    the natural hot spring in the courtyard flowed gently, and the slender watercourse wound its way around the spacious balcony. amidst the indistinct sound of the wind, someone found a gap in this extended kiss and whispered, ¡°i love you.¡±

 CH 82

    it took a while before a hand fumbled and accidentally touched the wall switch.


    due to the retro style of decoration, most of the lights in the inn were designed to resemble antique candlelight. the dim yellow light seeped through the cracks in the walls, outlining vague silhouettes of people.


    ji yao took a slight step back, creating a bit of distance between him and jiang heng, and a transparent thread hung between their lips.


    he licked the corner of his lips, locking eyes with jiang heng, and they both smiled simultaneously.


    ¡°are you hungry?¡± jiang heng reached out and brushed ji yao¡¯s sweaty forehead, asking in a low voice, ¡°would you like something to eat?¡±


    after the recent kiss, his voice was slightly hoarse, with a low tone and a hint of lingering ambiguity, sounding relaxed and intimate.


    ji yao¡¯s skin prickled at his touch, and he instinctively grabbed jiang heng¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°i¡¯m perfectly fine,¡± ji yao hinted, ¡°full of energy, and my health bar is full.¡±


    ji yao released jiang heng¡¯s hand, then naturally slipped his own hand inside jiang heng¡¯s coat, feeling around near his waist, and said in a hushed tone, ¡°it¡¯s you who hid something. where did you put it?¡±


    on their way to sapporo, ji yao had secretly searched their luggage while jiang heng was in the restroom. however, what puzzled him was that the acrylic box containing the coin had mysteriously disappeared from the suitcase. ji yao had searched for a long time but couldn¡¯t find it, only to come across a box of condoms in the same location where the small box had been.


    this ¡°mystery¡± had been nagging at ji yao throughout their journey, and now he couldn¡¯t help but voice his confusion.


    ¡°when did you take it out?¡± ji yao¡¯s voice carried a hint of amusement but also a subtle frustration, as if he was perplexed by his own inability to figure it out. ¡°why didn¡¯t i notice it?¡±


    jiang heng just smiled without saying a word, allowing ji yao to pull down his coat zipper. ji yao¡¯s hand naturally slipped inside, searching his body.


    ¡°do you want to know where i hid it?¡± jiang heng said with a smile. ¡°then you¡¯ll have to show some sincerity.¡±


    ji yao raised an eyebrow at his words, seemingly not entirely convinced. without saying anything more, he continued his search.


    unfortunately, he thoroughly checked jiang heng from top to bottom, but the small coin never appeared. seeing this, jiang heng couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. he grabbed ji yao¡¯s arm and pulled him up, leaning in for a kiss.


    ¡°it¡¯s right here,¡± jiang heng said, reaching into his coat and fumbling for a hidden inner pocket. he retrieved the small coin, which glittered like a rainbow under the lamplight.


    ji yao instinctively reached out to take it, but jiang heng¡¯s fingers spun the coin on his knuckles and finally held it in his palm.


    ¡°a yao,¡± jiang heng said with a teasing smile, ¡°why are you looking for it? were you planning to cheat?¡±


    ji yao hesitated for a moment, and his gaze flickered subconsciously. he cleared his throat with a hint of guilt.


    ¡°why would i do that?¡± he said.


    ji yao wasn¡¯t skilled at lying in front of jiang heng, and jiang heng noticed his reaction. however, he didn¡¯t press the issue. he hung his own coat by the door and then affectionately wrapped his arm around ji yao¡¯s shoulder, leading him into the room. jiang heng lowered his head slightly, leaned in close to ji yao¡¯s ear, and whispered softly.


    ¡°a yao,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°i¡¯ve prepared a surprise for you.¡±


    ¡°what is it?¡± ji yao asked.


    jiang heng pursed his lips and smiled, leading ji yao to the balcony where the living room met the courtyard. he then bent down slightly, opened a small cabinet about a meter high next to them, and pulled out a one-square-meter tray. ji yao¡¯s eyes glanced over and noticed a beautiful kimono placed on the tray.


    ji yao:¡­


    ji yao¡¯s ears instantly turned hot, and he hadn¡¯t forgotten how he had been forced to wear that kimono six years ago after losing a bet, only to be played with by jiang heng all night long. he gritted his teeth in embarrassment and playfully nudged jiang heng with his elbow.


    ¡°you kept this?¡± ji yao asked through gritted teeth. ¡°are you a closeted pervert?¡±


    jiang heng had known ji yao would react this way. he smiled in amusement for a moment, then reached out to turn ji yao¡¯s chin, tilting his face toward him.


    ¡°a yao, take a closer look,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°it¡¯s not the same one.¡±


    hearing his words, ji yao finally focused his attention on the tray. the kimono was exquisite and vibrant, with a bright red base adorned with patterns of irises. at first glance, it appeared identical to the one from six years ago, but upon closer inspection, ji yao noticed that this one was even more finely crafted, with golden thread embroidery on the cuffs.


    ¡°what do you mean?¡± ji yao asked cautiously. ¡°you¡¯re not going to say that i have to wear this outfit if i lose again, are you?¡±


    ¡°of course not, what kind of surprise would that be?¡± jiang heng smiled and said, ¡°i wanted to say that whether you win or lose today, i¡¯ll wear this outfit for you. how about that?¡±


    of course, ji yao thought. men are visual creatures, and ji yao was no exception. when he had previously lost a bet and was forced to wear the outfit while jiang heng devoured him six years ago, he had often wondered what this outfit would look like on jiang heng.


    the soft fabric would cling to jiang heng¡¯s body, and the slightly open neckline would be loosely cinched with a belt. moreover, the deep red fabric would darken when wet, turning into a gorgeous texture.


    with a flicker of desire, ji yao was almost immediately captivated by this idea.


    ¡°alright,¡± ji yao said.


    jiang heng seemed confident that he would agree, so he smiled, bent down, picked up the tray with one hand, and then leaned against ji yao¡¯s shoulder, pushing him toward the shower room next door.


    ¡°let¡¯s make it quick,¡± jiang heng whispered in his ear. ¡°your yukata is already inside.¡±


    this inn specialized in private hot springs, and each courtyard had two to three shower rooms. ji yao was itching with anticipation as he rushed to take a shower before changing into the yukata.


    because jiang heng needed more time to prepare his outfit, he came out about ten minutes later. when he emerged, ji yao was already sitting by the hot spring, dipping his feet in the water and staring at his phone screen.


    he looked focused, with a hint of a strange smile on his face, and he didn¡¯t even notice jiang heng approaching. jiang heng frowned and tapped his fingers in front of ji yao.


    ¡°what are you looking at?¡± jiang heng asked.


    it was just a casual question from jiang heng, but ji yao seemed startled. he quickly locked his phone screen, almost dropping it into the hot spring.


    ¡°hmm?¡± jiang heng squinted slightly and asked, ¡°a yao, what mischief are you up to behind my back?¡±


    ¡°nothing,¡± ji yao tried to deflect, pushing his phone away, and explained, ¡°i would never do anything behind your back, you know that.¡±


    but ji yao¡¯s words were abruptly cut off before he could finish them.


    the scene in front of him was almost exactly as ji yao had imagined it. jiang heng was wearing a bright red kimono, made of exceptionally smooth fabric that draped perfectly on him. it revealed a small expanse of his chest, making him look even paler and more exquisite than usual.


    perhaps it was the dim lighting, or perhaps his eyesight was just not that good, so jiang heng was wearing a rare pair of glasses. a delicate gold chain hung down from his frame, brushing over his collarbone and lying gently on the red fabric.


    his wristwatch had been removed, replaced by the extremely fine gold thread at the cuff of the kimono. under the soft glow of the lanterns in the corridor, the gold thread shimmered with delicate light, giving it a warm and precious look.


    ji yao had once admired the beauty of geishas in kimonos, but now he suddenly felt that jiang heng was much more attractive than those women covered in white powder.


    so he maintained this posture, gazing up at jiang heng, and his mind went blank for a moment, forgetting everything he had wanted to say.


    jiang heng raised an eyebrow, bent down, and lightly hooked his chin with a fingertip.


    jiang heng teased, ¡°are you stunned?¡±


    ji yao snapped back to reality, grabbing jiang heng¡¯s wrist and pulling him into the hot spring pool. jiang heng chuckled softly and followed him without resistance.


    they were both wearing nothing but their kimonos, and ji yao couldn¡¯t help but run his hand over jiang heng¡¯s thigh, pinning him against the pool wall.


    ¡°do you still want to flip the coin?¡± ji yao¡¯s chest heaved for a moment, his gaze fixed on jiang heng, as if he wished he could stare a hole through him.


    ¡°i for one don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary,¡± ji yao said. ¡°shouldn¡¯t you satisfy my specific requests this time?¡±


    ¡°we still have to flip the coin to make it fair,¡± jiang heng said, lips pursed, and his glasses slid down his nose slightly and ji yao leaned in, using his nose to push them back up.


    they were very close, their hot breaths mingling. jiang heng reached out and hugged ji yao¡¯s waist, pulling him closer along the water¡¯s flow.


    then, he placed a coin that had been heated by their body temperature into ji yao¡¯s hand.


    ¡°come on,¡± jiang heng seductively whispered in his ear. ¡°the fate of the gods is in your hands.¡±


    to demonstrate fairness, jiang heng was surprisingly gentlemanly. his hands only gently touched ji yao¡¯s body, not taking advantage of the situation.


    ji yao¡¯s gaze remained fixed on jiang heng, and he involuntarily swallowed hard, tossing the coin into the air.


    the shiny metal spun rapidly in the air for a few moments before landing on the green stone by the pool¡¯s edge, spinning endlessly.


    jiang heng tilted his head, propping it up with his hand, and asked with a smile, ¡°shield or portrait?¡±


    the last time ji yao chose shield, he lost his initiative for three years in one go. however, he was not one to give up easily. he squinted at jiang heng and stubbornly insisted, ¡°shield.¡±


    jiang heng softly chuckled.


    he didn¡¯t seem worried about losing at all, while ji yao was much more nervous. holding his breath, he watched as the coin slowed down and finally landed on the green stone, revealing the image of queen elizabeth on its surface.(portrait)


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°impossible!¡± ji yao exclaimed as if struck by lightning, ¡°did you cheat?¡±


    ji yao reached out to grab the coin to see for himself, but before his fingertips could touch the cold metal, jiang heng approached from behind and grabbed his hand.


    in the next moment, ji yao felt his bathrobe¡¯s belt loosen, and the wet fabric was lifted out of the water by jiang heng, wrapping around his wrist.


    ¡°a yao,¡± jiang heng affectionately whispered in his ear, gently biting his earlobe and saying softly, ¡°don¡¯t be a sore looser, let¡¯s accept the consequences of our bet.¡°

 CH 83

    just as ji yao had a conflicted personality, being both weak and rebellious, jiang heng appeared gentle but had a deep-seated desire for control.


    however, this kind of dominance usually remained hidden in his subconscious and only surfaced in two situations¡ªcourtrooms and in the bedroom.


    jiang heng pressed close to ji yao¡¯s back, chuckled softly, used one hand to fasten the soft fabric of his robe into a loop around ji yao¡¯s wrist, then deftly pulled on the knot, effectively ¡°tying¡± him to a nearby lamp post by the hot spring.


    his actions were swift and practiced, happening in the blink of an eye. before ji yao could react, he found himself captured, turned over by jiang heng, and pressed against the poolside.


    ji yao was all too familiar with his style, to the point that even before jiang heng had done anything, his exposed arm was covered in goosebumps.


    ¡°you¡­¡± ji yao gritted his teeth, saying, ¡°after all these years, you still use this tactic.¡±


    jiang heng hadn¡¯t even removed his glasses, and his bright red kimono was soaked, clinging wetly to his body, making him look like an enchanting fox.


    ¡°the big red fox¡± raised an eyebrow at ji yao¡¯s words and smiled gently.


    it seemed like he was deliberately prolonging the ¡°experience.¡± he sensually placed his palm against the inside of ji yao¡¯s elbow, sliding it upward slowly, gripping his wrist.


    the next moment, jiang heng took a step forward, using his knee to separate ji yao¡¯s legs.


    ¡°what about it?¡± jiang heng lowered his head slightly, leaned in close to ji yao¡¯s ear, licked his earlobe, and whispered seductively, ¡°do you miss it?¡±


    ji yao: ¡°¡­¡±


    at the mere mention of those words, ji yao¡¯s ears tingled, and he instinctively arched his back, trying to move away. the hot spring water splashed as he did so, with a few droplets landing on jiang heng¡¯s glasses.


    jiang heng¡¯s already dim vision suddenly blurred, the water droplets making the world look distorted and surreal. however, jiang heng paid no mind to it. he simply lowered his head and kissed ji yao passionately.


    ji yao¡¯s wrist twitched, but jiang heng quickly tightened his grip.


    the wet fabric had turned cold from the chilly air, and it was fragile yet unyielding. although ji yao could easily free himself, he found himself trapped.


    forget it, ji yao thought in resignation, why struggle with something consensual like this?


    his peripheral vision involuntarily glanced towards the shore, at the coin and he couldn¡¯t figure out how jiang heng managed to win this bet despite feeling so prepared himself.


    was his luck really that good? ji yao wondered hazily.


    but soon, he had no mental capacity to ponder such matters. jiang heng had gently pushed aside his yukata, and using the force of the water, he embraced ji yao¡¯s waist.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ji yao seemed disoriented amidst the intense yet gentle kisses. he felt overwhelmed by the heat, his chest rising and falling uncontrollably, and a slight blush creeping up his cheeks.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    sweat evaporated into his eyes through the mist, making ji yao uncomfortable. he couldn¡¯t help but blink.


    in an instant, the steam filled his vision, and ji yao only saw a vast expanse of red shadows descending upon him. jiang heng¡¯s cold glasses chain fell onto him, sending shivers down his spine.


    ji yao shook his head, and the water droplets slid down his eye corners, resembling tear tracks.


    for some inexplicable reason, jiang heng suddenly stopped, sighing softly. he lowered his head and kissed ji yao¡¯s eye corner.


    in the cold breeze, the warm and soft touch at the corner of his eye felt particularly distinct. ji yao was momentarily taken aback, then realized that jiang heng had licked away the water streak.


    his heart inexplicably softened, and ji yao¡¯s chest swelled with indescribable emotions. he closed his eyes and whispered jiang heng¡¯s name.


    ¡°hmm,¡± jiang heng responded quickly.


    ¡°i don¡¯t know how i lost,¡± ji yao suddenly said, ¡°but i lost willingly.¡±


    jiang heng: ¡°¡­¡±


    saying such a thing at this moment was as powerful as a first confession. jiang heng¡¯s breath hitched, and he kissed ji yao passionately, almost losing control.


    ji yao had acted on impulse, but he soon paid the price for it.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    jiang heng, still smiling, held ji yao¡¯s wrist and gently rubbed his slender wrist bone with his fingertip.


    the warm spring water almost incessantly washed up on the shore, making the coin shine brightly.


    ji yao was forced to change his position and lie on the water¡¯s surface. in the corner of his eye, he was fixated on that coin. jiang heng seemed to have noticed it, reached out his arm, touched it, and retrieved the coin, placing it in ji yao¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°i didn¡¯t cheat,¡± jiang heng¡¯s tone slightly lifted, carrying an indescribable sense of pleasure. ¡°don¡¯t believe me? check it for yourself.¡±


    just as ji yao was about to speak, jiang heng lowered his head and bit into the soft flesh on ji yao¡¯s shoulder. ji yao instinctively closed his teeth tightly around the coin.


    jiang heng used one hand to lightly brace ji yao¡¯s jaw with his index finger to prevent ji yao from accidentally swallowing the coin in excitement.


    ¡°have you checked?¡± jiang heng held ji yao¡¯s earlobe and gently nibbled it against his teeth.


    ji yao held the coin in his mouth, furrowing his brow in silence. he made sounds that were a mix of pain and pleasure from his throat, and his shoulders tensed.


    after what seemed like an eternity, jiang heng finally released him with a hint of mercy. he reached over to take the coin, rubbed ji yao¡¯s stiffened cheeks, and opened his kimono.


    ji yao felt like he had lost half of his life, and he was on the verge of collapsing into the hot spring pool.


    quick to react, jiang heng grabbed him, but before ji yao could catch his breath, jiang heng changed their position. he carried ji yao to the shallower area, leaning against the pool wall while placing ji yao on his lap.


    ji yao tried to escape, but jiang heng stopped him by wrapping his arm around his waist and pulling him back.


    ¡°i¡¯m fulfilling your wish,¡± jiang heng innocently squinted his eyes and smiled at ji yao.


    ji yao, feeling sore and frustrated, scooped up a handful of water and weakly retorted, ¡°what wish?¡±


    casually, jiang heng took off his glasses and placed them on the shore, saying, ¡°six years ago, you made a wish here. have you forgotten?¡±


    ji yao mumbled, ¡°¡­¡±


    slowly, ji yao¡¯s memory resurfaced. he looked at jiang heng and finally, with hindsight, pieced together some fragments from his memory.


    six years ago, after losing a bet, he did make a grand wish: ¡°the next time i come here, i¡¯ll make you wear women¡¯s clothing and make love to you.¡±


    ji yao grumbled, ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°wait a minute,¡± ji yao gritted his teeth and said, ¡°my wish was for me to be on top.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s right.¡±


    jiang heng smiled warmly at him, and the bright red kimono slipped down his shoulder, revealing a large expanse of fair skin, making him look like a seductive enchantress.


    ji yao couldn¡¯t deny that he was drawn by his beauty. while holding his breath, his gaze remained fixed on jiang heng, and he couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away.


    the ¡°enchantress¡± blinked, sounding gentle and reasonable, ¡°you¡¯re the one who wanted to sleep with me.¡±


    ji yao, trying to resist, couldn¡¯t say anything before his vision went black¡ªjiang heng had removed his kimono belt and blindfolded him.


    ¡°ah yao,¡± jiang heng embraced him, interrupting his words, and sighed softly, ¡°i love you so much.¡±

 CH 84

    ji yao sometimes felt that jiang heng could indeed be addictive.


    he was like a poisonous, addictive plant, making people fully aware of the danger yet willingly falling into the trap.


    fortunately, this guesthouse was extremely secluded, and each courtyard was relatively independent. otherwise, ji yao felt that he might never show his face here again.


    he didn¡¯t even remember how last night ended. he vaguely remembered jiang heng pulling him out of the hot spring and placing him on the bed. then, jiang heng bent down and gave him a gentle goodnight kiss.


    ji yao, in a drowsy state, sensed that jiang heng was nearby, so he effortlessly slipped into slumber.


    he slept deeply, and when he finally opened his eyes again, he realized he had slept through most of the day. the sunlight outside had already slanted to the west, casting the whole world in a radiant and hazy warmth.


    the spot beside him was empty, and ji yao squinted and reached out, but he didn¡¯t touch the familiar and soft warmth.


    it took him a few seconds to fully wake up from his half-dreaming state. he slowly blinked his eyes and then realized his eyes were dry and painful. his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and his whole body ached as if it were carrying a heavy load.


    ji yao held his breath, crawled out of bed with great difficulty, and looked around. he then noticed that jiang heng hadn¡¯t gone far but was sitting just outside the wide-open living room door.


    in the courtyard of the eastern garden, there was a reasonably-sized outdoor hot spring. the slightly elevated water temperature vaporized the cold air to a perfect level, making it comfortable even with the windows open in early spring. ji yao took a deep breath of the slightly cool steam, feeling like he was slowly coming back to life.


    jiang heng had changed out of the bright red kimono he wore the previous night and was now only in a loose, pure white yukata. he had his back to ji yao, his eyes lowered, and he was fiddling with something in his hands.


    the weather that day was unusually good. it had snowed just the previous day, but today, everything outside looked as if it had been wiped clean like a car window after rain. everything appeared clear and beautiful, even the concept of ¡°winter,¡± which typically carried a cold connotation, was now filled with vibrant, warm colors.


    jiang heng seemed completely absorbed in what he was doing, to the extent that he didn¡¯t notice ji yao had woken up.


    ji yao admired his back for a while and couldn¡¯t help but become curious about what jiang heng was working on. so, he crawled out of bed, picked up the neatly folded thick yukata next to him, and walked over to him, barefoot.


    as he got closer, ji yao suddenly realized that what jiang heng was handling was a small white paper crane about the size of half a palm.


    on his knee lay a well-folded ¡°reference,¡± and jiang heng, wearing glasses, was folding it very seriously.


    ji yao felt his heart calming down as he watched jiang heng¡¯s movements. he suddenly felt very soft, so he tilted his head, looked at him for a while, and couldn¡¯t resist resting a hand on jiang heng¡¯s shoulder. he bent down without warning and kissed him.


    jiang heng was momentarily stunned, but then he curved his lips and gently used his tongue to part ji yao¡¯s lips, exchanging a long and delicate kiss with him.


    after the kiss, jiang heng finally came back to his senses. he habitually placed everything within easy reach and extended his arms to hold ji yao¡¯s waist. he seemed a bit surprised that he hadn¡¯t heard ji yao walk over.


    ¡°when did you wake up?¡± jiang heng asked.


    ¡°just now, not long ago,¡± ji yao replied. ¡°why did you come out here?¡±


    ¡°in the afternoon, i called someone to clean the hot spring,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°i saw you sleeping soundly, so i didn¡¯t want to disturb you.¡±


    ji yao¡¯s legs were still a bit weak, and he stumbled a bit under jiang heng¡¯s touch, falling into his embrace.


    ji yao felt somewhat embarrassed in this position and instinctively pushed jiang heng away, trying to get up on his own. however, he struggled for a moment and ultimately couldn¡¯t succeed.


    ¡°is your waist still sore?¡± jiang heng asked.


    ¡°a little,¡± ji yao admitted. though he tried to act like it was no big deal, it was clear that he was feeling it. but as he looked at jiang heng¡¯s innocent yet indulgent smile, he couldn¡¯t help but feel unwilling. he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    jiang heng pursed his lips and smiled, nodded in agreement, and then slipped his hand into ji yao¡¯s yukata, silently massaging his butt and waist area, which had been overworked the previous night.


    his touch was just right, gentle, and ji yao didn¡¯t resist. his gaze drifted for a moment and fell on the paper crane beside jiang heng.


    ¡°why are you folding this?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°this?¡± jiang heng followed his gaze to the paper crane next to him. then, he picked up the neatly folded one and placed it in ji yao¡¯s hand.


    ¡°it¡¯s a gift from the guesthouse owner,¡± jiang heng said.


    compared to jiang heng, who was an amateur, the ¡°reference¡± in ji yao¡¯s hand looked beautiful and elegant, with smooth lines and clean creases. it was clearly the work of an expert.


    this paper crane was slightly smaller than the one jiang heng was folding, but it was exquisite in its own right. ji yao held it in his palm and felt like it could take flight with the wind at any moment.


    ¡°why give this to me?¡± ji yao asked, feeling puzzled. ¡°do you have a crush on me?¡±


    in japan, the thousand paper cranes hold deep significance. they could be used to pray for health or to make wishes come true. ji yao had some knowledge of this, but not much.


    ¡°what do you mean, a crush? don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± jiang heng couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°i am no longer young and neither are you.¡±


    jiang heng then held ji yao¡¯s hand and gently guided him to keep the paper crane.


    ¡°the landlady gives a paper crane to every couple,¡± jiang heng explained. ¡°this one¡¯s for you and me.¡±


    ¡°why didn¡¯t she do that six years ago?¡± ji yao wondered.


    ¡°she only started doing it two years ago,¡± jiang heng replied, gazing at the paper crane in ji yao¡¯s hand. he spoke softly, ¡°she said it was her husband¡¯s idea.¡±


    ¡°the landlady is from kyoto. when she was young, she went on a graduation trip to hokkaido and met her husband here. this inn was actually her husband¡¯s property back then. after they fell in love, they turned it into a hot spring inn together.¡±


    young love is pure and passionate, and it only takes a second to know it¡¯s for a lifetime. the young man successfully captured the heart of his beloved with a paper crane, securing a lifetime of warmth and love.


    ¡°she said that every year on their wedding anniversary, her husband would give her a paper crane. in japan, paper cranes symbolize blessings and can bring happiness to the ones you love,¡± jiang heng continued. ¡°their relationship was always strong, but two years ago, her husband passed away.¡±


    ji yao sighed softly.


    ¡°the landlady said that during his final days, she was very sad and even thought about giving up this inn, which symbolized their love. but her husband told her that he hoped she would keep it open and preserve their memories for a long time,¡± jiang heng explained. ¡°the landlady agreed, so since then, every time she hosts a couple, she gives each of them a paper crane, hoping they will have a happy life together.¡±


    this answer was both tender and heavy, and ji yao felt that the paper crane in his hand was as heavy as a thousand pounds. he couldn¡¯t help but carefully place it on the floor next to jiang heng¡¯s half-finished crane.


    ¡°why did you fold another one then?¡± ji yao asked in confusion.


    jiang heng bent his eyes and whispered, ¡°because your blessings have to come from me.¡±


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but laugh and playfully poked jiang heng, calling him childish.


    as he said that, ji yao seemed to remember something. he squinted slightly, pushed the two paper cranes aside, grabbed jiang heng¡¯s collar, and shook it. he asked, ¡°stop saying nice things to me. if you have the guts, admit that you lost to me last night.¡±


    ji yao¡¯s effort was not too strong, more like a playful gesture than a threat. jiang heng allowed him to pull him close and smiled good-naturedly, saying firmly, ¡°no, i won fairly, only fairness can satisfy everyone.¡±


    ¡°i don¡¯t believe it. why should you win twice in a row?¡± ji yao said as he got up from jiang heng and, with a determined look, walked into the room, leaning against the wall. he muttered in frustration, ¡°i should have won this time for sure¡ªthere must be something wrong with your coin.¡±


    he had said this several times last night, and jiang heng was curious why ji yao was so confident about his own luck. he couldn¡¯t help but stand up and follow ji yao into the room, asking repeatedly for the reason.


    ji yao didn¡¯t want to answer him, but jiang heng seemed determined to find out the truth. so, he simply pinned ji yao down on the bed, teasingly asking, ¡°a yao, are you crying wolf? tell me, what did you do?¡±


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but smile and struggled to push jiang heng off him, but his efforts were in vain.


    ¡°get off,¡± ji yao said.


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng asked with a smile, ¡°not until you confess?¡±


    ¡°confess what?¡± ji yao snorted twice, feeling extremely embarrassed on one hand and unable to resist defending himself on the other. after hesitating for two seconds, he told jiang heng about the accomplishments of the mystical blogger.


    but when jiang heng heard it, he burst into laughter even more. he lowered his head and kissed ji yao, loosened his grip on him, and rolled onto the bed, unable to stop laughing.


    ji yao sighed and, as if trying to regain some dignity, patted jiang heng on the shoulder, saying, ¡°what are you laughing at? at least i almost succeeded!¡±


    ¡°but a yao, i resolved your ¡®mercury retrograde,¡¯ i am your lucky charm.¡¯ how could it be the blogger¡¯s doing?¡± jiang heng confidently stated, ¡°clearly, it was me.¡±

 CH 85

    in the end, ji yao didn¡¯t dare to tell jiang heng the custom price of the talisman, which was a neat 250 chinese yuan.


    after all, compared to being scammed, he felt that losing face in front of jiang heng was even more unacceptable¡ªbesides, the amount itself didn¡¯t sound very wise.


    he unfollowed the blogger in front of jiang heng, closed their private messaging chat window, and decided that after returning to china, he would organize a department meeting with a ¡°promoting scientific knowledge¡± theme. he planned warn about the deceptive blogger to his nurses to educate them.


    jiang heng, knowing that ji had thin skin, didn¡¯t press further and pretended not to notice ji yao¡¯s newly changed starry screensaver.


    however, ji yao couldn¡¯t easily get over this embarrassment. he rolled around in bed for a good twenty minutes before finally shaking out the blanket and completely covering himself with it.


    ¡°tell me,¡± ji yao mumbled, ¡°is there a way to forget something immediately?¡±


    jiang heng chuckled, not even raising his head, and responded, ¡°a physical method? you could pick up a stone, and hit me with it. there might be a chance to achieve that goal¡ªjust remember to be gentle, or you might become a widower.¡±


    ¡°what¡¯s the point if only one of us forgets?¡± ji yao sighed, feeling hopeless. ¡°how about you pick up a stone too, and we can both hit each other?¡±


    obviously, this cursed talisman had a significant impact on ji yao. jiang heng couldn¡¯t help shaking his head and smiled wryly.


    ¡°it¡¯s not that bad; even materialists can have their moments. the scam may be basic, but it works. you¡¯re not the only one who fell for it,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°or how about this: i can forget everything right now. what do you think?¡±


    ¡°i think it¡¯s the result of the chinese feudal mindset,¡± ji yao replied, not feeling comforted at all. he pulled the blanket down a bit and stared at the ceiling, firmly stating, ¡°it¡¯s all because of the mentality of ¡®since we¡¯re here, let¡¯s go along with it¡¯ and ¡®better to believe it than not¡¯¡ªi¡¯m telling you, these two mindsets are the culprits behind most poor decisions.¡±


    ji yao had been wrestling with this, and jiang heng had a vague idea that ji yao had probably paid more than just ¡°trust¡± as the price. however, he didn¡¯t want to embarrass ji yao as he didn¡¯t want to say it explicitly.


    jiang heng didn¡¯t expose him and instead led him into a trap with his words.


    ¡°so, what should we do?¡± jiang heng asked. ¡°how about showing me your chat history with this blogger, and i can help you report them for violating internet regulations?¡±


    ¡°¡­let¡¯s forget about that.¡± when ji yao heard the suggestion of exposing their chat history, he became more cautious. he sat up on the bed, ran his fingers through his hair, changing the subject. ¡°what have you been doing all morning?¡±


    jiang heng had been sitting in the living room with his laptop all morning before he took a break and started working on the paper cranes.


    ¡°working,¡± jiang heng replied.


    at this point in their trip, things were different from six years ago. back then, they could both act carefree and ignore their phones when they went on vacation. but now, jiang heng had his law firm and colleagues to consider. even though he had informed them in advance, he couldn¡¯t simply ignore work if something urgent came up.


    ji yao watched him thoughtfully for a moment, then got out of bed, picked up jiang heng¡¯s glasses from the floor, and placed them on the bedside table. he then held jiang heng¡¯s face, leaned in, and kissed him.


    this kiss was tender, lingering, and even a bit innocent. jiang heng needed a kiss to recharge, so he wrapped his arms around ji yao¡¯s waist, slightly opened his eyes, and gazed at him.


    ji yao seemed to sense jiang heng¡¯s gaze and reached out to cover his eyes with his hand.


    jiang heng obediently followed his lead, closed his eyes, and allowed ji yao¡¯s thumb to sweep lightly across his palm, leaving a faint tickling sensation.


    the early spring wind in hokkaido was brisk, but the east courtyard was as warm as spring. the warm moisture in the air made it feel as if they were soaking in a cool spring, making them both relaxed and comfortable.


    the kiss lasted for quite a while before ji yao slowly released jiang heng. his thumb brushed against the corner of jiang heng¡¯s lips, wiping away an almost imperceptible moisture.


    ¡°why was that so sudden?¡± jiang heng asked with a smile.


    ¡°i just felt like kissing you,¡± ji yao replied.


    since the day they arrived in hokkaido, ji yao felt like they had entered a time warp. everything here was so similar to six years ago, as if they had never left.


    however, it was only now that ji yao sensed a subtle change in jiang heng. it was an elusive and blurry change, but not an unpleasant one. it gave ji yao a sense of peace, as if the dust had finally settled.


    six years ago, they were both young and inexperienced, their love cautious and guarded, each holding their own boundaries, afraid of falling off the tightrope of their budding relationship.


    but now, six years later, the feeling of secretly competing with each other had disappeared. they had both matured, and when they kissed, they could finally do it with complete openness, without hiding anything.


    there was no need for secrecy or testing; they could give as much love as they wanted, without worrying about revealing their true feelings.


    after six years, they had finally met the better versions of themselves at the starting point of everything.


    after a while, ji yao slowly released his hand from jiang heng. he made a move as if he was going to get up.


    jiang heng quickly grabbed ji yao¡¯s wrist and smiled, ¡°taking advantage of me and running away, is that possible?¡±


    ¡°so, what should we do?¡± ji yao raised an eyebrow playfully. ¡°you should take back the advantage then.¡±


    jiang heng thought that this suggestion was quite tempting and was about to put it into practice when the bell in their room suddenly rang.


    ji yao recognized the bell sound. this inn had good privacy, and the innkeepers wouldn¡¯t come over unless the guests needed something. they would use the bell at the courtyard entrance to alert them. ji yao looked at jiang heng and temporarily stopped their playful interaction, asking, ¡°did you request room service?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng shook his head, looking a bit puzzled. he got up and tightened his yukata. ¡°i¡¯ll go and check.¡±


    he walked towards the room door, leaving ji yao behind. ji yao stayed in the room, tidied up jiang heng¡¯s laptop, and placed it back in its protective case.


    after about ten minutes, jiang heng returned with two paper tickets in his hand.


    ¡°what¡¯s this?¡± ji yao asked curiously. ¡°is there another folk performance going on?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng replied. ¡°these are tickets for the hot spring festival performance.¡±


    the inn¡¯s courtyards weren¡¯t fully booked, so there were no folk performances this time. however, they had arrived at a convenient time because the annual hot spring festival in the small town was taking place. according to the innkeeper, the festival would occupy the entire town with markets and performance stages, including many classic japanese folk activities and snacks. if they were interested, they could go and take a look.


    ¡°and the innkeeper mentioned that the nearby shrine will also be open to visitors,¡± jiang heng added. ¡°but if you don¡¯t want to go, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ji yao wasn¡¯t particularly interested in japanese gods and spirits, and he hadn¡¯t even visited the hokkaido shrine last time. jiang heng assumed that ji yao would have the same attitude this time. however, ji yao thought for a moment, reached out, and took the tickets from jiang heng¡¯s hand.


    ¡°let¡¯s go and check it out,¡± ji yao said. ¡°i¡¯d like to go this time.¡±

 CH 86

    tourism in hokkaido had developed well in recent years, with more tourists visiting every year. this led to the growth of events like the town¡¯s hot spring festival, which had become a double exhibition of folk culture and entertainment.


    from the guesthouse, it was just a 500-meter walk along a small path to the entrance of the hot spring festival.


    the festival occupied much of the small town, with various temporary stalls lining the sides of the paths. in addition to street food and accessories, there were also quaint shops selling traditional yukata.


    ji yao passed through several stalls selling souvenirs, lightly pushing aside the small items piled together with his fingertips, scanning them as if looking for something.


    ¡°sir, what are you looking for?¡± the stall owner warmly smiled at him. ¡°i saw you passing by from over there and checking out two or three stalls.¡±


    ji yao instinctively withdrew his hand and carefully processed the stall owner¡¯s words. then he lowered his eyes and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.


    ¡°i¡¯m looking for a small item,¡± ji yao thought for a moment and asked, ¡°do you have pendant charms shaped like fox masks? red ones would be perfect.¡±


    ji yao remembered that the fox mask on the keychain of jiang heng¡¯s car keys had become worn over the years, with many scratches now visible. furthermore, when they parted ways, jiang heng had forcefully removed the mask from the keyring, leaving a noticeable scar.


    ji yao had always felt that since they were starting over, these symbolic little items should have a fresh start as well. he had wanted to buy a new one for jiang heng, but unfortunately, six years had passed, and the stalls here had become disorganized. ji yao hadn¡¯t found the familiar shop owner he once knew, let alone a similar pendant.


    the stall owner¡¯s english wasn¡¯t very good, and after trying for a while, he only understood a few key words. he then nodded in realization, gestured for ji yao to wait, and bent down to search through the inventory under the stall.


    ji yao saw a glimmer of hope and started to feel excited.


    the stall owner searched for three to five minutes before finally pulling out a fox mask with a red background and golden edges. unfortunately, the size was a bit larger than what ji yao had in mind for a pendant.


    ji yao took the human-sized mask and compared it to the standard size of a pendant, realizing that it was too big.


    ¡°this one is too large; i¡¯m looking for a pendant-sized one,¡± ji yao explained.


    ¡°it¡¯s not easy to find that,¡± the stall owner replied, looking troubled. ¡°only this type is available now. the design you mentioned hasn¡¯t been popular in recent years, and we mostly make these small items as amulets.¡±


    the stall owner pointed to the beautiful amulets displayed on the stall, trying to promote a few options. ¡°this one is quite nice; it¡¯s sapphire blue and suits you well.¡±


    ji yao shook his head with disappointment, placing the mask back on the stall. he politely declined, saying, ¡°no, thank you.¡±


    as they spoke, a hand reached over from ji yao¡¯s side and lightly hooked the edge of the mask, taking it into its grasp.


    ji yao turned his head to see that jiang heng had walked over to him at some point. jiang heng had a bag of takoyaki on one hand and a small bag of soft candies held by his pinky finger in the other, making him look like a snack vendor.


    ¡°it¡¯s quite nice,¡± jiang heng commented, hooking the mask and putting it on his face, demonstrating.


    the human-sized mask had exquisite craftsmanship, with a red background decorated with intricate golden patterns. with just a few strokes, it portrayed a fox-like appearance. when jiang heng put it on, he playfully narrowed his eyes, fitting perfectly with the mask.


    ¡°how does it look?¡± jiang heng asked with a smile.


    ¡°it really looks like a fox,¡± ji yao replied.


    the stall owner, who recognized jiang heng as the potential customer, immediately praised him, complimenting everything from his aura to his appearance. he said that the mask matched jiang heng¡¯s yukata exceptionally well.


    jiang heng playfully fiddled with the mask, not saying anything, and simply gazing at ji yao.


    he enjoyed these little things, but he never asked for them. ji yao was puzzled by his actions and eventually decided to buy it for him.


    ¡°thank you for your purchase,¡± the stall owner said with a smile, taking ji yao¡¯s cash and making a friendly gesture. ¡°i wish you happiness.¡±


    jiang heng agreed with a smile and then handed the bag of snacks hanging from his wrist to ji yao. he continued to play with the mask, looking delighted.


    ¡°i suggest hanging it on your keychain when we get back,¡± ji yao couldn¡¯t help but tease.


    ¡°if it doesn¡¯t fit, it doesn¡¯t fit,¡± jiang heng said, looking quite relaxed. he glanced at ji yao and said with a smile, ¡°yao, don¡¯t be too fixated on the past. it¡¯s not a big deal if you can¡¯t find the same one.¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m just disappointed that you can¡¯t carry it around like the other one,¡± ji yao said.


    jiang heng, seeing his disappointed face, hooked an arm around his waist and pulled him closer saying,¡± i still have you around me and that¡¯s enough.¡±


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but smile, but he didn¡¯t want jiang heng to be too proud. he quickly turned away and suppressed the smile that was about to surface.


    perhaps it was a coincidence, but the takoyaki still tasted similar to six years ago. ji yao was somewhat surprised when he glanced at the packaging of the box, and then he picked out one to feed jiang heng.


    this time, jiang heng didn¡¯t insist on his theory that ¡°only kids eat snacks.¡± he lowered his head slightly and used his teeth to take the snack.


    ¡°how is it?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°it¡¯s good,¡± jiang heng replied. ¡°just a bit heavy on the sauce.¡±


    the two of them finished the box of takoyaki together, sharing the same bottle of cherry juice. when jiang heng threw the empty bottle into a nearby trash can, they had arrived at the entrance of the shrine.


    the shrine appeared quite ancient, designed with simple brick, tile, and wood. there weren¡¯t many people inside, mostly elderly locals and young men and women wearing yukatas.


    ji yao and jiang heng walked side by side into the shrine, bypassing a collection of wooden plaques filled with japanese writing, until they reached the innermost part of the shrine.


    in front of the wishing pond, several elderly people were standing. ji yao patiently waited in line behind them, inching forward step by step.


    when he reached the front of the wishing pond, ji yao suddenly remembered something and turned to jiang heng, extending his hand.


    ¡°do you have a coin?¡± ji yao asked. ¡°give me one.¡±


    jiang heng reached out one hand from his sleeve and placed a cold metal item in ji yao¡¯s palm.


    ¡°use this,¡± jiang heng said.


    ji yao looked down at his palm and realized that jiang heng had given him the british pound coin they had used to make their bet.


    ¡°¡­this?¡± ji yao hesitated. although he didn¡¯t have any special affection for the coin himself, he knew that jiang heng valued these commemorative items.


    ¡°okay,¡± ji yao said. ¡°but are you sure you want to part with it?¡±


    ¡°go ahead and use it. maybe it¡¯ll make the wish more effective,¡± jiang heng said, hooking his arm around ji yao¡¯s and holding his hand. together, they tossed the coin into the wishing pond. ¡°besides, i won¡¯t need it in the future.¡±


    this would be their final bet, and so the coin could retire honorably.


    the coin made a clinking sound as it landed in the square pond, giving off a feeling of going all-in.


    immediately afterward, ji yao pulled the wishing bell, lowered his head slightly, and joined his hands together to make a wish.


    ji yao used to find these activities cheesy and useless, but this time, he was genuinely devout. after deciding to walk a long and enduring path with jiang heng, ji yao had taken it upon himself to pursue every possible means of assurance, including jiang heng¡¯s commitment and the blessings of the gods.


    he silently made a wish amidst the sound of the bell, and when he opened his eyes, he noticed that jiang heng had just done the same.


    ¡°what did you wish for?¡± ji yao gave way to the people waiting behind him and couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°for peace and happiness,¡± jiang heng said, pausing for a moment, then glanced at the somewhat nervous ji yao, deliberately leaving him in suspense. he then playfully added the second part of the sentence, ¡°and a hundred years of good luck.¡±

 CH 87

    after leaving the shrine, the sky outside had already turned dark.


    lanterns were lit along the streets, and the main venue of the festival was bustling with people. young men and women in yukatas were holding flower branches and taking the stage one by one, starting the pre-show activities for the folk performance.


    jiang heng watched the stage for a while from a distance. after weighing his options between rushing to see the performance or leisurely wandering, he ultimately chose the latter.


    he bought two servings of plum ice cream from a stall not far from the shrine. unable to resist the persuasion of the stall owner, he added two extra spoonfuls of plum sauce on top of the ice cream.


    the crystal-clear plum sauce revealed a beautiful pink color under the lantern light. the clear juice flowed down the ice peaks like mountain ridges, emitting a tempting sweet and sour aroma that made anyone¡¯s mouth water.


    unfortunately, before jiang heng could fully enjoy it, both of his ice cream bowls were confiscated by ji yao.


    ¡°eating something cold after something hot, aren¡¯t you afraid of getting a stomach ache again?¡± ji yao asked.


    jiang heng was a reasonable person, but this ice cream looked too tempting. he frowned in distress, attempting to negotiate with the doctor. ¡°yao, the lady said this is a classic japanese snack that you can only have during a few spring festivals each year.¡±


    as he spoke, he reached out to put his arm around ji yao¡¯s shoulder, moved forward, and gently pushed through the approaching tourists. then he leaned in close to ji yao¡¯s ear and said, ¡°let¡¯s make an exception just for today, hmm?¡±


    his warm breath brushed against ji yao¡¯s ear, his voice soft and deep, causing ji yao¡¯s earlobes to turn red, and a shiver ran down his spine.


    ¡°¡­just one bite.¡±


    ji yao could be quite shameless under certain circumstances. he hesitated for a moment, then scooped up the peaks of ice cream covered in plum sauce with a spoon and fed it to jiang heng.


    honestly, the taste of the plum sauce didn¡¯t live up to its appearance. the excessive syrup made the juice feel sticky and of poor quality. the acidity of the juice and the sweetness of the syrup didn¡¯t blend well; they seemed to operate independently.


    however, because of the wonderful atmosphere at that moment, jiang heng tolerated this small flaw.


    lanterns were lit throughout the small town, outdoor heaters were placed every few steps along the streets, and the snow on the roofs melted under the heat, forming droplets that slowly dripped down the dark tiles. in the distance, the mountains revealed faint outlines in the night, trapping the natural hot spring steam within the town. even in yukatas, people didn¡¯t feel too cold.


    the ice cream bowls in ji yao¡¯s hands began to melt slowly. the shaved ice, originally shaped like mount fuji, silently collapsed a bit, and the plum sauce mingled with the crushed ice, forming a thin layer of icy fruit juice at the bottom of the bowl.


    but ji yao was oblivious to all this. he simply held jiang heng¡¯s hand tightly in case he felt any stomach discomfort.


    in the glow of candlelight, ji yao¡¯s features softened, and jiang heng, looking at his worried expression, decided to forgive the taste of the plum sauce.


    the sound from the festival stage became livelier, the warm-up had ended, and young girls with bass guitars began taking the stage to sing. a distinct rock-style prelude burst from the speakers, and the crowd started moving toward the stage.


    jiang heng and ji yao also moved closer to the stage. however, just before they could get closer, jiang heng seemed to remember something and suddenly let go of ji yao¡¯s hand.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ji yao asked immediately.


    ¡°i left my phone at the guesthouse,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°i need to go back and get it.¡±


    ji yao frowned in confusion.


    normally, jiang heng wouldn¡¯t make such a basic mistake, but today, both of them had changed into japanese yukatas before leaving their room. ji yao couldn¡¯t remember if jiang heng had put his phone in his yukata¡¯s pocket.


    ¡°i¡¯ll go with you to get it,¡± ji yao offered.


    ¡°no need,¡± jiang heng replied. ¡°you can wait here for me, or you can go to the stage area. i¡¯ll be back quickly.¡±


    jiang heng took a few steps back and walked against the crowd in the direction of the guesthouse. the festival was crowded, and he quickly disappeared into the sea of people. ji yao stood in place, gazing in the direction jiang heng had gone, considering whether to head toward the stage. then, he felt someone lightly bump into his shoulder.


    immediately after, he heard a somewhat familiar voice in his ear.


    ¡°i¡¯m really sorry, i accidentally bumped into you,¡± the woman said. ¡°i wasn¡¯t watching where i was going.¡±


    in a crowded environment like this, it was natural for people to bump into each other, so ji yao patted the water stains on his sleeve and was about to say it was okay. however, when he raised his head, he was momentarily stunned.


    ¡°¡­izumi?¡±


    the woman in front of him looked much the same as she did six years ago, so ji yao recognized her at a glance. she still had the exaggerated makeup on, wore an intricate and elegant kimono, and when she spoke, she lowered her head in a submissive manner, revealing her beautiful and snow-white neck.


    izumi also seemed slightly surprised. she lifted her head to glance at ji yao and then suddenly smiled.


    ¡°it¡¯s you, sir.¡±


    ji yao wondered if all geishas had the ability to remember people at a glance. she clearly remembered him, so she genuinely greeted him with a bow and a smile, saying, ¡°welcome back to japan. you look much more relaxed than last time.¡±


    ji yao still remembered the precise assessment izumi had made of him and jiang heng the last time they were in japan. back then, he was young and didn¡¯t quite understand its implications until later when he gradually figured out the deeper meaning behind those words.


    six years had passed, and many things had changed beyond recognition. fortunately, he had gained more than he had lost.


    receiving the label of being ¡°more relaxed¡± once again, ji yao couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of nostalgia.


    ¡°yes,¡± ji yao said, ¡°because i finally realized that in life, there are many things one has to figure out on their own¡ªand i have someone by my side who supported me through the toughest times.¡±


    izumi had provided ji yao with crucial assistance at the right time, and he was still grateful to her. so, even though this topic touched on their privacy, he continued speaking a bit more.


    ¡°i used to be a helpless coward, like a trapped beast,¡± ji yao said. ¡°he saved me, pulled me out of the swamp, and gave me a new possibility in life. actually, what you said back then was quite right. some things you really need to try to know the outcome.¡±


    with a smile, izumi listened to him. then, she tilted her head slightly, observing him with apparent interest.


    after a moment, it seemed like izumi had detected something in ji yao¡¯s demeanor, and she smiled gently.


    in izumi¡¯s eyes, ji yao appeared to have been reborn, freed from his shackles. his expressions were no longer marked by panic and anxiety, but instead, they had gained a certain stability through the passage of time.


    ¡°you have grown,¡± izumi softly murmured. ¡°i can see that you¡¯ve discovered the essence of life and found your treasure. this is a gift for you, please accept it.¡±


    izumi handed ji yao a pair of omamori, and then, with her hands together, she bowed to him, expressing a hint of regret. ¡°it¡¯s just a pity you didn¡¯t catch the summer fireworks festival. it was a very splendid sight.¡±


    the sky had now turned completely dark, but the town was illuminated by candlelight, and sweet and gentle fragrances filled the air everywhere.


    amid the joyful sounds of the crowd, ji yao¡¯s gaze extended beyond izumi¡¯s shoulder into the sea of people. he saw a familiar face with precision.


    ¡°it¡¯s not a pity,¡± ji yao suddenly smiled and said, ¡°because i¡¯ve already found the fireworks that will never fade.¡±


    jiang heng was approaching from a distance, and ji yao only had to wait in place for less than two minutes before jiang heng would reach him. however, ji yao¡¯s patience seemed to vanish suddenly at that moment, so he couldn¡¯t wait any longer. he moved against the crowd, trying to reunite with jiang heng.


    the sound system near the stage switched from rock music to classic japanese music, and a monk performed a ¡°fire-walking¡± act. the crowd was exclaiming in response. ji yao struggled to move through the crowd, keeping a clear direction toward jiang heng.


    there were just too many people around, and ji yao¡¯s eyes had diverted for just a moment when jiang heng disappeared from his view. ji yao looked around, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, as if the brief eye contact with jiang heng was a figment of his imagination.


    for some reason, impatience suddenly overwhelmed ji yao¡¯s mind, and he attempted to find his way through the chaos. however, the atmosphere was so noisy that his calls were quickly drowned out by the cheering.


    ji yao furrowed his brow slightly, and his patience had completely run out. a thin layer of sweat appeared on his back.


    he was about to turn aimlessly when a hand suddenly reached out, lightly patting his shoulder.


    ji yao reflexively turned around, only to find that jiang heng had somehow approached him from behind, smiling at him.


    ¡°handsome young man,¡± jiang heng said with a smile, ¡°you seem quite in a hurry. are you looking for someone?¡±


    the moment ji yao saw jiang heng, his heart returned to reality. he unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, and his whole body relaxed.


    ¡°if you need any help,¡± jiang heng performed a japanese-style greeting and said in english, ¡°i¡¯m familiar with everything around here and would be happy to assist you.¡±


    ¡°that won¡¯t be necessary,¡± ji yao raised an eyebrow and added, ¡°i¡¯m waiting for someone.¡±


    ¡°waiting for someone?¡± jiang heng asked knowingly.


    ¡°waiting for someone very important,¡± ji yao replied, shaking a small item in his hand, and continued, ¡°i have a gift for him.¡±


    the pair of omamori in ji yao¡¯s hand was a special internal version provided by the event organizers. they were finely crafted and brightly colored. jiang heng couldn¡¯t help but be impressed, and he asked, ¡°it looks great. i wonder if i¡¯m fortunate enough to receive this gift?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m afraid not,¡± ji yao shook his head seriously and put away the omamori before jiang heng could reach for it. ¡°this is for my beloved.¡±


    ¡°well, there¡¯s nothing i can do then,¡± jiang heng let out a long breath, sounding regretful. ¡°to get this gift, i¡¯ll just have to become your lover.¡±


    jiang heng took a step forward, wrapped his arms around ji yao¡¯s waist, and seemed ready to kiss him.


    ji yao wasn¡¯t as good at playing along as jiang heng, and he couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°you decided so hastily? shouldn¡¯t you ask for my opinion?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not hasty,¡± jiang heng curved his eyes playfully and said mysteriously, ¡°i¡¯ve prepared a surprise for you to show my sincerity.¡±


    the atmosphere near the festival stage had reached its peak. cheers from the crowd overwhelmed the surroundings, and ji yao was also infected by this atmosphere. his heart raced with anticipation.


    for some reason, he suddenly recalled his conversation with izumi just now. it was as if fate had intervened, and he guessed, ¡°did you buy fireworks, by any chance?¡±


    jiang heng widened his eyes slightly and let out an exaggerated ¡°oh.¡± he looked genuinely surprised.


    ¡°this young man, we seem to be on the same wavelength,¡± jiang heng said with a smile.


    just as he finished speaking, several fireworks suddenly burst at the edge of the town. the sparks shot straight up into the sky, creating brilliant bursts of colors against the night sky.


    fireworks held deep and profound meaning in japan. as the fireworks in the sky continued without pause, the atmosphere on the ground reached its peak.


    some people made wishes under the dazzling fireworks, hoping for smooth sailing in the coming year. others kissed under the glow of lanterns, hoping for their love to last year after year.


    ¡°how about that?¡± jiang heng spoke softly amidst the bustling crowd. ¡°is this surprise sincere enough for you?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s more than enough,¡± ji yao next to him said. ¡°i¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±

 CH 88

    during their week in japan, apart from revisiting familiar places, ji yao also went skiing, visited a ranch, and made chocolates with jiang heng.


    ji yao used to dislike such seemingly meaningless cheesy activities, but this time around, during their revisit, he somehow felt like he had shed some burden and was willing to try everything.


    he and jiang heng spent an entire afternoon at the chocolate factory, happily melting chocolate and pouring it into molds.


    in the end, they made over twenty boxes of chocolates, both the finished products and some slightly imperfect ones. to carry all this ¡°hard work¡± back, they had to buy a new suitcase at a nearby mall.


    ¡°that should be good,¡± jiang heng said optimistically as he looked at the half-height suitcase in his hand. ¡°we have enough souvenirs for when we go back.¡±


    ji yao glanced at the bulging suitcase and remembered how he had refused to visit the chocolate factory six years ago, feeling a bit hypocritical. he couldn¡¯t help but clear his throat and avert his gaze.


    ¡°do you want to send a gift to auntie?¡± ji yao asked. ¡°after all, it¡¯s your first time making sweets by hand.¡±


    in the past few months, xiaotong had often called jiang heng, occasionally inquiring about their lives and having a private chat with ji yao.


    at first, ji yao felt awkward and restrained when facing her alone, but over time, he got used to it. he didn¡¯t have a warm family environment himself, so he naturally had a fondness for open-minded parents like xiaotong. during this time, ji yao and xiaotong had developed a good relationship.


    ¡°maybe not,¡± jiang heng thought for a moment and said, ¡°it¡¯s not a factory made product, so we can¡¯t guarantee its shelf life. it might spoil if we send it.¡±


    ji yao thought it made sense and didn¡¯t bring it up again. instead, he reached into the paper bag jiang heng was carrying and took out a chocolate ball, popping it into his mouth.


    besides relaxing and having fun, ji yao had been thinking about jiang heng¡¯s keychain for a while. he hadn¡¯t found an identical replacement at their familiar places in japan, and he had been somewhat disappointed. however, just a day before leaving japan, he unexpectedly found a substitute at a glass workshop in otaru.


    on the day they visited otaru, hokkaido had just received fresh snowfall. jiang heng was wearing a long down jacket of the same style as ji yao¡¯s as they got out of the car one after the other.


    it was only a few hundred meters from the station to the canal, and the japanese-style town had a hint of european culture mixed in. the architectural style looked completely different from the hot spring valley because of the recent snowfall. the weather appeared gloomy, with a touch of desolation. however, the soft colors of the glass lamps reduced the winter chill to some extent.


    the town¡¯s museums and restaurants were open, and warm-colored lights shone through the glass doors, creating a hazy halo on the glass.


    the glass workshop was a famous attraction in otaru, and as they toured the place, ji yao¡¯s gaze inadvertently swept across a set of small items on a nearby shelf.


    those miniature figurines were each about two or three centimeters in size and depicted lively animals like brown bears, seals, or whales. ji yao observed them for a while and noticed a pile of accompanying products, such as strings for making pendants.


    ji yao stared at the set of figurines for a moment and couldn¡¯t help but feel tempted.


    ¡°can glass be molded into anything?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°anything is possible,¡± the receptionist at the glass workshop replied with a smile. ¡°if you have a favorite pattern, you can try making it yourself. we offer a non-blowing craft experience for tourists.¡±


    jiang heng, who was eavesdropping, instantly guessed ji yao¡¯s thoughts. he couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips and, before ji yao could answer, he put his arm around ji yao¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°we¡¯ll take two spots,¡± jiang heng said to the receptionist.


    ¡°do you know how to make these?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°i don¡¯t,¡± jiang heng lowered his head slightly, getting close to ji yao¡¯s ear. ¡°but no pressure, no matter what you make, i¡¯ll pretend it¡¯s a fox.¡±


    ji yao couldn¡¯t help but laugh at him and playfully elbowed him away.


    ¡°no need,¡± ji yao said. ¡°maybe i have innate talent for this.¡± compared to pottery and other handicrafts, glasswork was clearly more challenging. however, ji yao, who was used to handling surgical instruments, had a steady hand that even impressed the glass artisans. jiang heng, on the other hand, lacked ji yao¡¯s stability. after trying it out, he simply decided not to make it too difficult for himself and only made two glass cups.


    ji yao¡¯s progress was slightly slower, but everything went smoothly. jiang heng took a look at him and, seeing him fully absorbed in his work, decided not to disturb him. he put down his items and went around the sales area again.


    the glass craftsmanship in otaru was quite good, and jiang heng bought several souvenirs for xiaotong, wrote a greeting card, and handed it to the store clerk for mailing. then, he selected a few glass lamps for their new home that was still under renovation.


    when he went back to the experience area again, ji yao¡¯s fox had already been completed and was waiting to cool down. jiang heng leaned over to take a look and was surprised to find that the finished product actually looked quite good.


    ¡°is it beautiful?¡± ji yao said. ¡°i think it¡¯s quite similar.¡±


    ¡°indeed, it¡¯s very similar and better than the previous one,¡± jiang heng said with a smile. ¡°but isn¡¯t glass material too fragile? what if it breaks?¡±


    ji yao wasn¡¯t worried about this issue at all. he had an unusual trust in jiang heng, as if things placed in his hands would always be well taken care of.


    ¡°i¡¯m sure you will protect it,¡± ji yao said.


    upon hearing this, jiang heng touched ji yao¡¯s hand and chuckled.


    ¡°oh no,¡± jiang heng said, ¡°you¡¯ve found me out.¡±


    he took out his own keychain from his pocket and carefully replaced the weathered little fox with the new one.


    ¡°aren¡¯t you giving me the old one?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°no,¡± jiang heng said with a smile, straightening up. ¡°they¡¯re both mine.¡±


    after leaving the glass workshop, the snow outside was falling heavier and heavier. ji yao and jiang heng walked along the canal, and ji yao suddenly remembered an old japanese movie they had watched many years ago.


    ji yao himself wasn¡¯t particularly fond of avant-garde art films, but because jiang heng enjoyed all kinds of old movies, he had accompanied him to watch quite a few before their breakup.


    he couldn¡¯t remember the name of the japanese movie they had watched that day, but he vaguely remembered the nostalgic and grayish tone of the film, as well as the iconic heavy snowfall in hokkaido.


    on that day, ji yao had drunk too much at noon, so he didn¡¯t have to go to school in the afternoon. he had stolen half a day of leisure and spent it at home with jiang heng.


    old movies had a rich and delicate texture, but unfortunately, ji yao had felt dizzy halfway through that day, and he hadn¡¯t remembered anything about the plot. he only remembered that the film¡¯s soundtrack was very beautiful.


    ¡°the movie we watched before, was it filmed here?¡± ji yao suddenly asked. ¡°what was it called?¡±


    jiang heng was never stumped by such questions. he pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow, teasingly smiling.


    ji yao was puzzled by his laughter. he said sincerely, ¡°i really don¡¯t remember the name.¡±


    ¡°i know,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°you had a bit too much to drink that day, watched the movie for only half an hour, and then dozed off. you kept leaning on my shoulder and refused to go back to the room to sleep. not to mention you, i myself don¡¯t remember any of the plot.¡±


    ji yao carefully recollected that dim afternoon, but could only vaguely recall the movie soundtrack with some background noise.


    however, he didn¡¯t dwell on it and simply pinched jiang heng¡¯s hand and said. ¡°when we get back home, let¡¯s watch the movie again. what do you say?¡±

 CH 89

    after returning from hokkaido, jiang heng was surprised to find that the potted jasmine plant in their home had silently sprouted while they were away.


    they had only been away for a week, but the tender shoots in the pot had grown to be about half a palm¡¯s height. the lush green leaves stretched out, swaying gently in the balcony breeze.


    jiang heng curiously picked up a small water spray bottle nearby and sprayed it a few times. the water mist settled on the leaves and quickly formed into droplets.


    ¡°is it sprouting?¡± ji yao, who had changed his clothes, came over from behind and squatted down next to jiang heng. he looked at the small thing in the pot, skeptical, and asked, ¡°could it be weeds?¡±


    it wasn¡¯t surprising that ji yao had doubts, considering that he had taken care of this little plant diligently for such a long time without any signs of growth. yet, as soon as he and jiang heng left, it decided to sprout.


    ¡°it can¡¯t be.¡± jiang heng said, ¡°this soil has been sifted. how could there be weed seeds?¡±


    jiang heng took out his phone without further ado and snapped a photo, sending it to the florist with a message: ¡°can you tell me what this is?¡±


    the response from the florist came quickly. jiang heng quickly scanned through the instructions and then handed the phone to ji yao, unable to help but laugh.


    ¡°it¡¯s a purple jasmine,¡± jiang heng explained. ¡°not the regular jasmine.¡±


    purple jasmine and regular jasmine were different species with different growth methods. one was grown from seeds, and the other from cuttings. purple jasmine was not cold-resistant and would only sprout at temperatures above 18 degrees celsius. in the past few months, the temperature in shanghai had been low, so the flower seeds remained dormant. it was probably due to their trip coinciding with the warming of shanghai in the spring that the seeds finally sprouted.


    jiang heng had made a small mistake, and as a result, their pre-arranged bet for the ¡°sprouting anniversary¡± had failed to happen. they could only squat by the flowerpot and exchange glances.


    ¡°if only we had installed a surveillance camera at home,¡± ji yao muttered. ¡°now it has grown this tall, and we don¡¯t even know which day it sprouted.¡±


    ¡°really?¡± jiang heng sat down on the ground, his legs crossed and his arms resting on them. he smiled and asked, ¡°is your competitive spirit that strong?¡±


    ¡°of course,¡± ji yao said. he had lost a bet twice to jiang heng in hokkaido, and now it was time to regain his confidence. grinding his teeth, he said, ¡°i had a hunch that i would win this time.¡±


    ji yao had an unreasonable confidence in his gambling luck, and jiang heng had become used to it. hearing this, he narrowed his eyes and suddenly laughed.


    ¡°well, then,¡± jiang heng said. ¡°since the purple jasmine takes only a few months from sprouting to flowering, why don¡¯t we make a bet on its flowering?¡±


    ¡°sure,¡± ji yao agreed.


    the flowering period for purple jasmine was about three to six months. during this time, shanghai experienced its last wave of late spring cold before smoothly transitioning into summer.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    li linghua¡¯s anti-medical disturbance fund had taken shape, and ji yao had received recognition within the hospital. as for jiang heng, due to his appearance in a high-profile public opinion case, he had gained significant attention in the legal field, and his former university even awarded him the title of ¡°outstanding alumnus.¡±


    it seemed that their lives had suddenly crossed a certain threshold, becoming orderly and stable. by the time they realized it, everything had settled, and they had entered a new phase of their lives. the wandering and uncertain days of the past seemed like a distant memory.


    however, the potted jasmine in their home appeared to have been forgotten by time. its growth was slow, steady, and unhurried. by the time it formed flower buds, jiang heng¡¯s new home had been renovated and they were ready to move in.


    jiang heng was a perfectionist when it came to his home, striving for excellence in every detail. the interior design had been redone twice, and the completion date kept getting pushed back. it wasn¡¯t until the tail end of summer that he finally gave the green light.


    on the day of the inspection, ji yao happened to be at work, so jiang heng went alone and sent ji yao a short video showcasing their new home.


    ji yao was itching with curiosity after watching the video that lasted just over a minute. he immediately initiated a video call. they discussed and made decisions through the video call.


    ¡°what about that small room?¡± ji yao pointed to the door that had flashed by in the video and said, ¡°open it and show me what¡¯s inside.¡±


    when they were designing the interior, that mysterious room had piqued ji yao¡¯s curiosity. now that the renovation was finally complete, his curiosity had been reignited.


    unfortunately, jiang heng had control of the camera during the video call. he turned the camera around, smiled at it, and said, ¡°curious, huh? you can check it out yourself when you get here later.¡±


    ji yao¡¯s curiosity reached its peak, and it felt like a small cat was scratching at his heart. he continued to coax jiang heng with soft words and pleas, but the iron-willed lawyer refused to show him.


    ¡°¡­alright,¡± jiang heng said, stepping into the corridor. he smiled at the camera and asked, ¡°shall i pick you up now? should we have dinner first or go straight home later?¡±


    ¡°let¡¯s go straight home,¡± ji yao said. he had an unusual curiosity about uncharted territory and raised an eyebrow with a smile. ¡°i don¡¯t believe you can stop me from entering the room when we get back.¡±


    their new home had just been tidied up, but they hadn¡¯t moved in everything yet, so the entire place looked a bit empty.


    therefore, when jiang heng picked up ji yao from work, he made a detour to buy a bouquet of flowers along the way.


    the bouquet was a delicate ice-blue, consisting of nineteen flowers, just enough to fill a vase. jiang heng unwrapped the flowers and, out of the corner of his eye, noticed ji yao peering curiously at the door of the mysterious room.


    paying no attention to ji yao¡¯s curiosity, he smiled and used scissors to trim a piece of stem before placing it in the vase with water.


    ji yao wandered around outside the room for about three minutes, unable to find the key to unlock it. eventually, he gave up and went back to jiang heng, hugging him from behind.


    ¡°are you hiding something inside?¡± ji yao pouted. ¡°is there something i¡¯m not allowed to see?¡±


    jiang heng just smiled without answering. he pursed his lips, tilted his head, and pointed to his left pocket, indicating that the key was there.


    following jiang heng¡¯s gesture, ji yao reached into his pocket and retrieved a jingling silver keychain. all the keys on the chain looked similar in size and color except for one key, which was smaller and had a different color.


    ji yao held up the unique key and asked, ¡°is it this one?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯ll give you a hint,¡± jiang heng said, his voice low. ¡°bluebeard¡¯s wife opened a forbidden door, and from then on, she was trapped in the castle.¡±


    ji yao wasn¡¯t easily frightened by such stories. he shook the keychain, creating a cacophony of clinking sounds, and responded with a playful challenge, ¡°not a chance. i¡¯ll even risk breaking the law for this.¡±


    jiang heng chuckled at his response. he put down the bouquet of flowers and wiped the water droplets from his hands with a tissue before approaching ji yao.


    ¡°if you really want to see, then come on,¡± jiang heng said. he wrapped his arms around ji yao¡¯s waist and led him to the room¡¯s entrance. with ji yao in his arm, he unlocked the door.


    before today, ji yao had often wondered about the room¡¯s interior. maybe jiang heng had developed some strange tastes over the years and needed a place to store them. or perhaps it was just an ordinary closet. then again, there might be nothing special inside, and this could be another one of jiang heng¡¯s playful tricks to pique his curiosity.


    but as soon as the door swung open, ji yao realized that none of his speculations had come true. the room had a side wall with a small window, a light green loveseat beneath it, a light yellow carpet on the floor, and a small succulent plant on a white coffee table in front of the loveseat.


    the room seemed no different from any other small sitting room in the world. ji yao was momentarily taken aback, wondering why jiang heng had locked this place.


    his gaze wandered around the room before he noticed two metal shelves against the other two walls.


    on the shelf directly facing the door, there was a small wooden box about the size of a palm. ji yao¡¯s eyes traveled upward, and suddenly, he froze.


    inside the open box was a starry watch.


    jiang heng had a watch of the same design that ji yao had seen him wear a few times, but this one was obviously different. it appeared newer and brighter, with a different strap.


    ji yao was initially stunned, but then a suspicion emerged deep within him. he couldn¡¯t help taking a few steps closer to the box and picking up the watch.


    due to a lack of winding and maintenance over time, the watch had stopped. its face displayed a specific moment in time. ji yao absentmindedly rubbed the watch and discovered a note hidden underneath.


    ¡°this was your christmas gift that year,¡± jiang heng suddenly said.


    he leaned against a nearby shelf but didn¡¯t enter the room. instead, he smiled at ji yao. ¡°however, for certain reasons we both know, you never received it.¡±


    jiang heng had rehearsed several lines before saying this. it was clear that this moment could easily hurt ji yao, but in the end, he thought that these were the most straightforward words.


    while renovating this room, jiang heng had considered many things¡ªabout their relationship, their future, and the long life they would have together. they were both still young, and he wanted to ensure a secure and thoughtful path to a lasting commitment.


    people don¡¯t easily forget the past, and for jiang heng, there were things he couldn¡¯t erase. he wanted both him and ji yao to remember the lessons of the past, as only through that could they make more cautious choices in the future.


    jiang heng reached into his pocket, retrieved the retired red fox pendant, and placed it beside the watch.


    ¡°in fact, i should have placed that tie here too,¡± jiang heng suddenly said. ¡°i didn¡¯t take it with me at the time. for a long time after, i was uneasy because i kept instinctively searching through my luggage. it took me a while to remember that i hadn¡¯t taken it with me.¡±


    jiang heng¡¯s favorite necktie had been a gift from ji yao. he couldn¡¯t explain whether it was because it was given by ji yao or if it had some special meaning, but he felt that the fabric of the tie was soft yet firm, and it was the perfect length. it was comfortable to wear, and he regretted losing it after they separated.


    it took jiang heng a long time to get used to not constantly reminiscing about the comfort of that tie. however, whenever he wore an uncomfortable tie, he still felt regret, wondering why he hadn¡¯t taken it with him in the first place.


    ji yao¡¯s gaze followed jiang heng¡¯s movements, and he seemed a bit reluctant at first. however, he quickly understood jiang heng¡¯s intention.


    the past couldn¡¯t be erased, and wounds couldn¡¯t be simply covered up and ignored like frosting on a cake. time flowed swiftly, and people had to gain growth through their experiences.


    ¡°so¡­ is this the ¡®cooling-off room¡¯?¡± ji yao asked.


    ¡°sort of, but the conditions are quite good,¡± jiang heng chuckled, gesturing to the nearby sofa. ¡°when you need to cool off, there¡¯s a sunny sofa, blankets, and even coffee.¡±


    after a light-hearted joke, jiang heng¡¯s tone became calm again. he embraced ji yao and gently moved the fox pendant on the shelf.


    ¡°in the future, if we have a heated argument that we can¡¯t resolve, we can come in here and sit down,¡± jiang heng softly said. ¡°if the argument is really intense, we can put something on this shelf and then sit here and think about whether we want to add more items to this shelf.¡±


    ji yao considered his words for a moment and suddenly felt a shiver. he said with a hint of lingering fear, ¡°i don¡¯t want to add anything right now.¡±


    once regrets and mistakes became irreversible, their severity would only increase exponentially. ji yao understood jiang heng¡¯s intention and why he had put so much thought into this.


    jiang heng was not only warning ji yao but also himself¡ªendless compromises were not a good sign. he had to learn to express his thoughts, even if it led to arguments. at least, it would provide them with an opportunity for reflection.


    ji yao touched the watch box and then turned around, kissing jiang heng.


    ¡°i love you,¡± jiang heng said.


    ¡°i love you too,¡± ji yao replied. ¡°more than ever before.¡±


    jiang heng found ji yao¡¯s words amusing and pushed his shoulder, gesturing for him to look at the door.


    when ji yao had entered earlier, he had left the door open. it was only at this moment that he noticed there was a small whiteboard hanging on the door of this ¡°cooling-off room.¡±


    on the whiteboard, jiang heng had written, ¡°partnership discipline guidelines,¡± followed by the three rules they had agreed upon.


    ¡°partnership discipline guidelines,¡± jiang heng whispered to ji yao, ¡°remember to follow them. there will be consequences for breaking the rules.¡±


    ¡°what kind of consequences?¡± ji yao couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°that¡¯s not fixed,¡± jiang heng said with a nibble on ji yao¡¯s earlobe, smiling. ¡°minor mistakes, minor penalties; major mistakes, it depends on the situation.¡±


    ji yao sensually tilted his head, then turned around and hugged jiang heng¡¯s neck.


    he looked serious and gazed at jiang heng for a while before suddenly making a move, pushing jiang heng onto the sofa.


    jiang heng stumbled and sat down, only to see ji yao straddle him.


    ¡°alright,¡± ji yao said softly.


    as soon as he finished speaking, he leaned down and kissed jiang heng. the mood between them was clearly not as calm as it seemed on the surface. jiang heng¡¯s chest heaved heavily, and he used his hand to press down on ji yao¡¯s back.


    the kiss was passionate and intense. jiang heng¡¯s left hand reached up to the nearby shelf, relying on memory to fumble around for a moment before he took out the watch from its box.


    ji yao closed his eyes as they kissed, not knowing how long it lasted. suddenly, he felt a cold sensation on his right wrist, as if something had been fastened to it.


    he opened his eyes and realized it was the starry watch.


    ji yao was momentarily stunned, looking at jiang heng with surprise. he had just started to ask ¡°why,¡± but jiang heng¡¯s index finger sealed his lips.


    ¡°you¡¯re only allowed to wear it in this room,¡± jiang heng whispered.


    ¡°¡­ why?¡± ji yao asked in confusion.


    ¡°because we need to practice its other function,¡± jiang heng said, kissing ji yao¡¯s neck gently. he pressed ji yao down on himself more firmly and used his fingertips to hook the watch strap, slowly gripping ji yao¡¯s wrist bone.


    ¡°¡­ after we cool off in here, we have to make love.¡±


    ¡ª¡ªend of the main text.