Chapter 198: You Are My Medicine (23)
The atmosphere in the house was heavy. Mother and Father Chen sat on the sofa, facing Chen Yinnian. Chen Ni sat on the other side, silent.
“Chen Yinnian, you haven’t given me a single day of peace,” Father Chen said, setting his teacup down on the table.
Chen Yinnian frowned. “Once I got really sick, you didn’t care much anymore. That’s why my brother dumped me at Xiao Ji’s place.”
“I did cause you a lot of trouble. But if it weren’t for Xiao Ji, I might have been dead six months ago. Why do you have to say such things now?”
Father Chen was never known for his good temper. If Chen Yinnian were a normal person, he likely would have slapped him twice by now. But Chen Yinnian wasn’t. Father Chen suppressed his fire and spoke to him:
“Do you even know if Xiao Ji is being sincere with you?”
“Chen Yinnian, you’re a patient. No one wants to give up on you, but you have to understand…”
“Enough, Dad. Don’t,” Chen Ni interrupted. There were some things that shouldn’t be said to Chen Yinnian. They were too hurtful.
Chen Yinnian knew what his father had left unsaid. Father Chen wanted to say: You have to understand that no one can stay this devoted to looking after you for a lifetime.
Even biological parents couldn’t keep it up, let alone Xiao Ji.
Chen Yinnian felt his parents were being strange, but he couldn’t pinpoint why. He just tried to fight for his case. “Xiao Ji is different.”
But the moment the words left his mouth, Father Chen slammed his hand on the table. “How do you know he’s different?!”
Chen Yinnian couldn’t understand. “I’m the one who’s been living with him! My condition has improved, and Xiao Ji deserves the credit. Do you have any idea how well he took care of my life and my emotions?”
As he spoke, his emotions began to escalate. “He’s better than all of you! He never lost his temper with me! He promised he wouldn’t leave me! You don’t understand anything! How can you say that?!”
Father Chen wanted to say more, but Chen Ni gave him a look. “Stop, Dad. Let me talk to Xiao Nian.”
He stood up, took Chen Yinnian’s sleeve, and led him upstairs to his room.
Chen Yinnian wasn’t stupid. After a moment of silence, he looked at Chen Ni. “What are you all hiding from me?”
Chen Ni denied it. “Nothing. Even if you’re ill, the idea of you being gay isn’t exactly easy for Mom and Dad to accept.”
Chen Yinnian didn’t believe him. “Chen Ni, I’m not a moron. I could see Dad’s attitude just now. From beginning to end, he never mentioned anything about caring about the gender.”
Chen Ni fell silent.
Chen Yinnian stared at him for a while. Then, he pulled a fountain pen from the pen holder on the desk, uncapped it, and pressed the nib against his own throat.
“Do you think I’m capable of doing it?”
Chen Ni’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. He hurriedly raised his hands. “Don’t be impulsive, Xiao Nian. Calm down. Let’s stay calm and talk this through.”
Chen Yinnian took a step back. “I want the truth, Chen Ni. Don’t push me.”
Chen Ni’s head was throbbing. This was the situation he dreaded most. It would be one thing if Chen Yinnian were easy to fool, but he was simultaneously hyper-sensitive and intelligent.
“Speak, Chen Ni.”
The nib of the pen was pressed hard against his throat now; a bright red bead of blood began to bloom beneath the skin.
Chen Ni’s mind was a mess. “Put it down! Chen Yinnian, put it down! I’ll tell you!”
Chen Yinnian seemed unable to feel the pain. He just stared at Chen Ni, his right hand gripping the pen firmly.
Chen Ni reached out toward him. “Put it down. Give me the pen. I’ll tell you.” He was truly terrified. He didn’t know if Chen Yinnian would impulsively plunge the pen into his own throat the moment he heard the truth.
Chen Yinnian wanted the truth. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally lowered the pen and handed it to Chen Ni.
Chen Ni’s hand was shaking as he took it. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I made a deal with Xiao Ji, Xiao Nian. What we’re worried about now is that he isn’t being sincere with you.”
If Chen Yinnian were a normal person—with his good looks, his wealthy background, and his likable personality—gaining someone’s heart would seem like the most natural thing in the world.
But Chen Yinnian was a patient. Chen Ni didn’t have the confidence to believe that someone like Xiao Ji could really love Chen Yinnian with a whole, untainted heart.
Taking it a step further into conspiracy, Chen Ni even worried that Xiao Ji might be using Chen Yinnian to slowly consume the Chen family’s assets.
Chen Yinnian carefully processed the meaning of Chen Ni’s words. After a long while, his voice carried a tremor. “A deal? What do you mean?”
Since they had reached this point, Chen Ni chose to tear away the veil and lay the naked truth before Chen Yinnian.
“When I first begged him, that was the condition he proposed.”
Chen Yinnian felt his head spin. For a moment, his stomach began to churn. He rushed into the washroom and dry-heaved for a long time. He struggled to control himself and calm down. Leaning against the washroom door, he looked at Chen Ni.
“It’s just an amusement park. Xiao Ji doesn’t lack that kind of money.”
When he spoke those words, it was unclear if he was arguing with Chen Ni or trying to comfort himself.
Chen Ni pulled Chen Yinnian into a hug, trying to bypass the topic. “It doesn’t matter, Xiao Nian. Xiao Ji gave you companionship. At least you were happy during the time you were together. No matter what he’s after, you’re getting better, aren’t you?”
He wanted to convince Chen Yinnian to treat it as a transaction. Whatever the Chen family could give Xiao Ji, Chen Ni would grant it, as long as Xiao Ji continued to be good to Chen Yinnian.
Chen Yinnian didn’t speak. He leaned against Chen Ni’s shoulder, the word “deal” playing on a loop in his mind.
Chen Ni feared Xiao Ji’s ultimate goal was the Chen family; Chen Yinnian could see that too. A small amusement park was nothing, but what about the entire Chen family?
Someone like Zhang Heng knew how to be transparent and bow to profit without hesitation.
What about Xiao Ji?
Chen Yinnian’s mind was a tangled mess. After a long silence, he spoke to Chen Ni with eerie calm. “Go out. I want to be alone for a bit.”
Chen Ni didn’t dare. “I’ll stay with you.”
“Don’t worry,” Chen Yinnian refused. “I’m in a good state right now. I just need a moment to myself. I won’t hurt myself.”
He pushed Chen Ni away, climbed onto the bed, pulled the covers over himself, and closed his eyes.
Uneasy, Chen Ni left the room and immediately turned on the surveillance monitor.
But Chen Yinnian suddenly got up and stood on the desk. In one swift motion, he tore the small, inconspicuous camera from the wall and threw it out the window.
Chen Ni knocked on the door immediately. Chen Yinnian shouted from inside, “If you dare come in, I’ll die right now!”
The sound from inside the room ceased, and Chen Ni could only lean against the door and listen intently. At the same time, he messaged Mother Chen, telling her to have people keep watch outside Chen Yinnian’s window.
A violent smashing sound erupted from within the room.
Chen Yinnian toppled the bookshelf and smashed the vases. With bare feet, he stepped across the shards of glass. He picked up his phone and blocked every single one of Xiao Ji’s contact methods.
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