Chapter 9: Nightmare
As soon as Liu Ming Zhou stopped, overwhelming sleepiness washed over Chi Qui Lin.
Liu Ming Zhou cautiously asked, “Brother, are you sleepy?”
Chi Qui Lin nodded, feigning sleepiness. Liu Ming Zhou suppressed his restless thoughts, obediently drawing the curtains, pulling the blanket over Chi Qui Lin, and hugging him. He whispered, “Then sleep.”
Sleeping in the middle of the morning was one thing, but sleeping in his rival’s arms? Chi Qui Lin sighed, but he was indeed tired, and eventually succumbed, resting his head on Liu Ming Zhou’s arm and falling into a deep sleep.
…
He dreamed of the small apartment he and Yao Xin Yu had once rented.
The weather was exceptionally clear that day. Chi Qui Lin opened his eyes, noticing the thick smoke filling the room.
Yao Xin Yu wasn’t beside him.
Chi Qui Lin didn’t know how much smoke he had inhaled, only feeling completely weak. He instinctively called out Yao Xin Yu’s name, but his throat was hoarse, his voice lacking any power.
He struggled to his feet, stumbling out of the bedroom. Yao Xin Yu was lying unconscious in the kitchen.
“Yao Xin Yu!” Chi Qui Lin slapped his cheek, trying to wake him, but no matter how hard he tried, the other remained with his eyes closed, unresponsive.
The fire started in the kitchen.
Seeing the large flames about to lick Yao Xin Yu’s shirt, Chi Qui Lin struggled to move Yao Xin Yu, hoisting him onto his shoulder.
In that instant, the flames burned Chi Qui Lin’s back, but he ignored it. He’d inhaled too much smoke; any delay, and they would both die.
With that thought, Chi Qui Lin looked at the unconscious Yao Xin Yu in his arms, enduring the burning pain, and ran toward the door.
He stumbled along the way, using all his strength. Flames burned his hair, spreading to half his face. His eyes ached intensely, and his body was almost numb…
Chi Qui Lin was awakened by the aroma of food.
He opened his eyes and found himself wrapped in a large bathrobe. Liu Ming Zhou was sitting beside him with a plate of fried rice. Liu Ming Zhou’s eyes were clear, his demeanor calm; he had returned to normal.
Seeing the faintly visible bandage on Liu Ming Zhou’s wrist, Chi Qui Lin shifted his gaze, focusing on the fried rice. “Did you make this? It smells delicious.”
“Yes,” Liu Ming Zhou’s mood brightened at the compliment, his tone slightly higher. “I’ll feed you.”
Before he could finish, footsteps sounded behind him. Yao Xin Yu entered, “Mingzhou, rest for a while. I’ll take care of him.”
Chi Qui Lin looked at Yao Xin Yu in astonishment, “When…when did you get here?”
Yao Xin Yu calmly replied, “While you were sleeping. Mingzhou has been taking care of you for a long time; he’s tired. Let him rest; you don’t mind, right?”
Chi Qui Lin didn’t answer, watching Yao Xin Yu’s concern for Liu Ming Zhou, remembering his own serious injuries from saving Yao Xin Yu. His heart ached.
Unconsciously, he shook his head.
Yao Xin Yu’s expression immediately turned displeased, about to speak, but Liu Ming Zhou stopped him, “Let me do it. You’re not close to him; he might feel awkward.”
Not close? Chi Qui Lin glared at Liu Ming Zhou, feeling a pang of sadness – so what if he knew Yao Xin Yu intimately? Familiarity wasn’t the same as love.
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Chapter 10: My Ex-Boyfriend Shows Up, and Nothing Good Happens
Watching Liu Ming Zhou patiently feed Chi Qui Lin, Yao Xin Yu felt restless. For some reason, he sensed a unique affection between Liu Ming Zhou and Jing Qiu Chi, but he lacked the standing to interfere.
Chi Qui Lin noticed Yao Xin Yu’s complex gaze, but continued to enjoy Liu Ming Zhou’s attentive care without showing it.
Since witnessing Liu Ming Zhou’s uncontrolled emotions earlier, Chi Qui Lin felt that when Liu Ming Zhou was composed, his gaze held an indescribable restraint and affection.
This gave Chi Qui Lin goosebumps. He wondered what Jing Qiu Chi himself would think, but for Chi Qui Lin, being watched with such a look by his rival was utterly repulsive.
After eating, Liu Ming Zhou took Chi Qui Lin to the rehabilitation center, and Yao Xin Yu naturally followed.
His weak muscles made the exercises excruciatingly painful for Chi Qui Lin. But remembering that only by successfully rehabilitating could he escape this turmoil and see his parents, he mustered his willpower, gritting his teeth to force himself through difficult movements.
Liu Ming Zhou diligently stayed by his side, his eyes filled with deep concern. He said gravely, “Brother, you don’t have to push yourself so hard. Let’s take it slow.”
Watching Liu Ming Zhou’s concern for Chi Qui Lin, Yao Xin Yu felt irritated again. “Mingzhou, I’ll hire a caregiver to look after him. You don’t need to tire yourself out.”
“No need,” Liu Ming Zhou and Chi Qui Lin spoke almost simultaneously.
Yao Xin Yu watched the two in perfect sync, feeling even more uneasy.
Liu Ming Zhou glanced at his phone, softly saying, “Xinyu, today is Chi Qui Lin’s mother’s birthday.”
Chi Qui Lin’s heart tightened. He hadn’t expected to hear about his mother here. His movements involuntarily stopped.
Yao Xin Yu softly replied, “Then let my secretary call. His voice is very similar to Chi Qui Lin’s.”
Liu Ming Zhou nodded. “And if his mother urges him to come home, say he’s working on a project and will try to return before the New Year.”
Chi Qui Lin’s breath hitched – Liu Ming Zhou and Yao Xin Yu were concealing his death from his parents? Why? Were they afraid of the Chi family’s influence and power?
A cold smile touched his lips. Chi Qui Lin casually performed basic rehabilitation exercises, intently listening to Liu Ming Zhou and Yao Xin Yu’s conversation.
Yao Xin Yu sighed, helplessly saying, “I don’t know how much longer we can keep this up.”
Liu Ming Zhou was silent for a moment, saying gravely, “Let’s take it one step at a time. We don’t need to keep it up for much longer, anyway.”
Yao Xin Yu nodded and left the rehabilitation center.
After watching Yao Xin Yu leave, Liu Ming Zhou turned his attention back to Chi Qui Lin, but found him mechanically repeating the same movement, his eyes vacant, seemingly spacing out.
Liu Ming Zhou patted his shoulder. “Brother, what are you thinking about?”
Chi Qui Lin looked up, hesitated, and finally couldn’t contain his churning thoughts and emotions, asking, “Why are you hiding Chi Qui Lin’s death?”
Liu Ming Zhou pondered for a moment before speaking, “Chi Qui Lin’s mother has a terminal illness. She doesn’t have much time left, so we wanted to make her last days easier.”
Terminal illness? Chi Qui Lin was shocked, his limbs going weak as he fell from the equipment, collapsing on the floor.
【Author’s Note: I almost forgot about Yao Xin Yu, the oblivious big scumbag with little presence.】
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