Chapter 193: You Are My Medicine (18)
The Xiao family’s surveillance might not be entirely reliable, but 037’s playback was.
Xiao Ji ordered 037 to replay every word and action involving Chen Yinnian and others during his conversation with Xiao mother.
[037: That poor, pathetic bastard really didn’t say a single word.]
Common sense dictated that the Chen family was not to be trifled with. Chen Ni was right there on the phone; no one would be crazy enough to insult Chen Yinnian for no reason and offend the Chens.
Xiao Ji fell into deep thought.
[Xiao Ji: But his state has been quite good lately. He hasn’t completely lost control.]
The most heartening thing was that even though Chen Yinnian had snuck out that night, he had ultimately controlled himself and climbed back over the wall.
Compared to his previous manic phases, this was a clear improvement.
After performing an integrated analysis of Chen Yinnian’s emotional fluctuations, 037 said to Xiao Ji:
[037: Let’s observe a bit longer. Don’t rush into anything yet.]
Chen Yinnian woke up with a start two hours after falling asleep.
Fortunately, Xiao Ji had anticipated this. He hadn’t gone to sleep yet, instead sitting by Chen Yinnian’s side reading by the light of a lamp.
Chen Yinnian bolted upright and immediately began accusing Xiao Ji:
“You think I was hallucinating too, don’t you? You don’t believe me at all. Didn’t you hear him insulting me? You think I’m just going crazy, right?”
Hearing his breathing become heavy, Xiao Ji reached out and pulled him into a hug. He patted his back and said softly:
“No, I never thought that.”
Chen Yinnian was highly agitated. “Last time! Before! I hit Chen Yu, and he wouldn’t admit he insulted me. No one believed me then either!”
He spoke incoherently about the accusations others had hurled at him back then.
Even after the surveillance was checked and it was confirmed that Chen Yu had indeed insulted him, people still said:
A normal person wouldn’t resort to violence over a single sentence.
Only someone with mental issues like Chen Yinnian would start a fight at the slightest provocation.
At this moment, Chen Yinnian needed an outlet for his frustration.
No matter how much Xiao Ji tried to soothe him, it wouldn’t have much effect.
Xiao Ji simply held him, preventing him from struggling, and said:
“It doesn’t matter, baby. You had your reasons for being angry. They must have provoked you. Otherwise, why would you never raise a hand against me?”
It took quite some time for these recurring emotional waves to subside again.
Chen Yinnian slumped against Xiao Ji’s shoulder.
“Brother, don’t stay with me. I’ll end up hurting you sooner or later. You can’t save me.”
“I’ll cause you endless trouble. You’ll work yourself to death.”
Xiao Ji rubbed the back of his head. “If that day comes, consider it a death well-spent.”
“I’m not tired, Chen Yinnian. I mean it.”
That night, Xiao Ji didn’t supervise Chen Yinnian taking his medicine as he usually did, but Chen Yinnian took it on his own initiative.
Before falling asleep, he was in a state of utter mental lethargy.
Xiao Ji thought Chen Yinnian’s depressive phase was returning.
But in fact, not long after Xiao Ji got up the next morning, Chen Yinnian also woke up.
He wasn’t manically excited like the previous two days, nor was he particularly silent or disinterested.
He simply leaned in and kissed Xiao Ji’s cheek, saying with a smile:
“Morning, Brother.”
Xiao Ji returned the kiss, and the two of them squeezed together at the sink to wash up.
When Xiao Ji went to cook, Chen Yinnian brought over a small stool and sat at the kitchen door, watching him.
He was calm yet clingy.
After the meal, Chen Yinnian took over the dishwashing duties. He put the dishes in the dishwasher, wiped the table, and then sat on the sofa, asking Xiao Ji:
“Can we watch a movie?”
Normally, during a manic phase, Chen Yinnian couldn’t settle down enough for something that required such concentration.
And when the depressive phase hit, he would lose all interest in such activities.
Xiao Ji glanced at him and felt his forehead.
“Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Chen Yinnian shook his head. “I’ve never felt better.”
Xiao Ji turned on the projector and let Chen Yinnian find a documentary about volcanoes.
The film had no dramatic plot, yet Chen Yinnian watched with rapt attention. He even found a moment to say to Xiao Ji:
“I haven’t watched a movie in a long time. This feels great.”
It was rare to see him so peaceful. While making an excuse to get him some juice, Xiao Ji sent a message to Chen Ni:
[Xiao Ji: Give that kid who got hit a sum of money. Have him come to the door and apologize to Chen Yinnian.]
Chen Ni quickly replied with a string of question marks, followed by:
[Chen Ni: Who did you say is apologizing to whom?]
[Xiao Ji: Have him apologize to Chen Yinnian. I’ll cover the cost.]
Chen Ni replied with a string of ellipses.
After a long while, he added:
[Chen Ni: You’re going to spoil him rotten.]
[Xiao Ji: He’s mine now. Whether I spoil him or not is my business.]
Although Chen Ni didn’t understand Xiao Ji’s reasoning, it was clear that only Xiao Ji could stabilize Chen Yinnian right now.
So, Chen Ni did as he was told.
That evening, just as Xiao Ji and Chen Yinnian finished dinner, Chen Ni arrived with the man.
The man who had been hit was named Zhang Heng, and he was no nobody.
However, his family had business ties to the Xiao family, and Xiao Ji had offered enough incentives to make him swallow his pride for this visit.
Chen Yinnian still had a smile on his face when he saw Chen Ni.
But the moment he saw Zhang Heng, his smile vanished.
He sat beside Xiao Ji in silence.
Zhang Heng also felt his scalp tingle at the sight of Chen Yinnian. He placed the gifts he brought on the table and forced himself to speak:
“Regarding yesterday… it was my big mouth. I spoke out of turn. I’ve come to apologize and hope Young Master Chen won’t hold it against me.”
Hearing this, Chen Yinnian looked quite awkward.
He scratched his head and stood up. “It was my fault too. I was too impulsive and shouldn’t have hit you. To have you come here to apologize… I’m really sorry.”
Zhang Heng’s eye twitched. He glanced at Chen Ni, let out a sigh, and fell silent.
The atmosphere was indescribably tense.
Even Chen Ni felt a bit bad for Zhang Heng.
The man hadn’t said a word, got beaten for no reason, and now had to bring gifts to apologize. It was simply a travesty of justice.
His goal achieved, Chen Ni checked the time and said to Xiao Ji:
“I have things to do, so I can’t stay. Call me if anything comes up.”
Xiao Ji nodded and looked at Zhang Heng, saying flatly:
“Thanks for your trouble.”
Zhang Heng waved his hands repeatedly. “Don’t mention it, President Xiao. It was my own doing. No trouble at all.”
Chen Ni couldn’t bear to look any longer. He turned to Chen Yinnian and cautioned him:
“Be good and listen to your Brother Xiao. Tell me if you miss me, and I’ll come pick you up anytime.”
Chen Yinnian’s eyes curved into crescents as he hooked his arm through Xiao Ji’s.
“Just go. I’m perfectly fine; I won’t miss you at all.”
Once Zhang Heng and Chen Ni were gone, Xiao Ji began to nonchalantly clear the table and wipe it down.
Chen Yinnian stood there, watching him quietly.
The smile on his face had vanished. After a long while, he said:
“What was that? Can money really make the world go ’round?”
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