Chapter 6: I Hate You to the Core
From that fall, Jian An felt as if the bones in his body had shattered. The pain was unbearable. He choked out:
“Do you really distrust me that much…?”
“Jian An, I hate you to the core.”
Ji Songting half-crouched. His gaze overflowed with unconcealed cold rage and disgust. He then reached out and grabbed Jian Anās collar, forcing him to look at him. He sneered:
“What kind of ‘pitiful’ act are you putting on now? Trying to gain sympathy from me? Well, let me tell you, it’s absolutely impossible. Don’t dream of getting even a speck of love from me. People like you look harmless on the outside, but in reality, you’re cruel, cold-blooded, and hypocritical. You can deceive my father, but you can never fool me!”
After saying this, Ji Songting suddenly dropped his fierce expression. His volatile face spread with a wanton, playful look. He turned and walked out of the ward.
It wasn’t until that tall figure gradually faded from his blurred vision that Jian An finally sat up from the floor.
He leaned against the hospital bed and looked up at the ceiling. In an instant, all his grievances and pain were buried in his hollow eyes. Finally, he allowed his tears to fall silently.
The infected wound on the back of his hand throbbed with a faint sting, but Jian An seemed to have no sensation left.
He used to love being clean. He cared about his dignity and couldn’t stand even one ugly scar on his body. Even if his hand was cut by a craft knife, he would find every way to hide and cover it.
But now?
Those bruised and battered hands could no longer be hidden. The scars on them were just like himāutterly hideous.
At that moment, the door was pushed lightly.
Jian Anās heart jumped. He hurriedly wiped his tears and straightened his rumpled clothes before bracing himself against the wall to stand up.
The person who entered was Yang Rui.
He nodded awkwardly to Jian An, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward the other man’s bruised arms.
Ji-zong really was ruthless…
Jian An immediately noticed the subtle, strange expression. He quickly put his hands behind his back and asked:
“Secretary Yang, you… why are you here?”
“Mr. Jian, Ji-zong asked me to process your discharge so you can go home, but…”
Yang Rui paused intentionally at this point. He glanced toward the door and, after confirming no one was there, lowered his voice and continued:
“But you are truly physically weak. You could tell the Chairman and continue staying in the hospital. You don’t need to listen to Ji-zong.”
Hearing this, a bitter smile appeared on Jian Anās despondent face. He turned away silently and used an alcohol swab to clean the blood from the needle site, giving the wound a simple treatment.
Given that man’s temper, there was likely no room for negotiation. Besides, it just so happened that he didn’t like hospitals either.
Jian An gave a soft, lonely sigh.
“Forget it. Let’s go.”
…
The blurred, flickering lights in the bar flashed incessantly. In the center of the dance floor, crowds writhed their bodies frantically. The air was thick with the scent of strong alcohol and the molecules of revelry.
“Waiter, a glass of whiskey and a glass of hot milk.”
“Certainly.”
Ji Songting sat in a booth with his legs crossed. His well-tailored suit outlined his straight, tight waist. His dangerously handsome looks instantly drew the eyes of many young women.
He ignored the flirtatious glances being thrown his way. His gaze fell on the excited Shen Chuyan beside him. He asked in confusion, “Xiao Yan, you just got out of the hospital. Why did you want to come here?”
“I was just so bored staying in the hospital! I had to come out to play, otherwise, I’d die of boredom.”
Shen Chuyan turned to block the gazes of others and lightly shook the man’s arm. He blinked his beautiful fox-like eyes and then pleaded in a soft, coquettish voice:
“Also, I don’t want to drink hot milk. I want whiskey too! A-Ting, don’t treat me like a child.”
“No. You have to go to Yao High tomorrow afternoon to give an art lecture. Your health is the most important. You can drink later.”
Ji Songtingās brow twitched slightly. Although his voice was indifferent and lacked any emotion, a layer of tenderness colored the space between his stunningly beautiful features.
“Hmph… fine then.”
Shen Chuyan pouted, pretending to be angry. Suddenly, he thought of something. His eyes darted around, and he said enthusiastically:
“Oh, right! Why isn’t Brother Xiao An with us? He must be very bored at home. Call him over too~”
Upon hearing something related to Jian An, Ji Songtingās previously calm expression instantly turned dark. The glass he was lightly swirling also came to a stop. He tilted his head back, took a sip, and said:
“Why call him? He’s a buzzkill.”
The subtle change in the man’s expression was still caught by Shen Chuyan.
A satisfied smirk played on the corner of his mouth as he acted spoiled:
“Of course we should call him! I want to thank him~ Thank him for cooking for me while I was sick. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had an appetite, and I wouldn’t have recovered so quickly.”
“Then I suppose we should thank him.”
Ji Songting stared down at his glass. The amber liquid inside reflected a brilliant, colorful light under the lamps.
He took out his phone and sent a message and an address to Jian An. The faint, distracted look in his eyes was replaced by a sudden chill.
…
Jian An had just lain down when his phone suddenly pinged with a message. He sat up abruptly.
[Ji Songting: I’m drunk. Come pick me up.]
He glanced out the window at the ink-black sky. He immediately grabbed his coat and, without even changing out of his pajamas, rushed downstairs.
The cold midnight wind whistled against the high-rise buildings, sounding like the wailing of ghosts. It made him shiver.
Jian An hailed a taxi on the roadside. After getting in, he replied to the message immediately:
[Songting, wait for me. I’m coming right now!]
Although Ji Songting often stayed out all night, he had never gotten drunk outside before. What was wrong with him today? Had he encountered something sad?
He stopped all the swarming thoughts, looked at the driver, and requested anxiously:
“Sir, could you please go a bit faster? I have an emergency. Thank you. I can pay you extra.”
“Alright, I’ll try. Any faster and I’ll be breaking traffic laws.”
The car stopped in front of the famous Newcastle Bar in Yao City. The driver couldn’t help but glance at Jian An, who was wearing a coat over pajama pants, and silently shook his head.
Do good-looking young people these days like to come to these places for entertainment?
The drumbeats inside the bar were deafening. The chaotic crowd was lost in their own world. It was extremely noisy.
Jian An had never been to a bar in his entire life. Facing the scene before him alone for the first time, he was momentarily at a loss.
He shrank back helplessly, trying his best to avoid the crowded masses and the arms that kept reaching out toward him.
“Hey handsome, where are you going? Come play with us~”
“No… I’m looking for someone.”
Jian An hurriedly refused. Looking at those people dressed flamboyantly and acting wildly, he was a little afraid.
Finally, in a booth not far ahead, he saw Ji Songting at first glance, leaning against the sofa with one hand.
And in his arms… Shen Chuyan was leaning there?
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