Chapter 184: You Are My Medicine (9)
The original host and Mother Xiao were indeed interested in that land in the Lanhai District.
Jinsha itself wasn’t large; it was prosperous and crowded, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with an extremely developed tourism industry.
Rich people never complain about having too much money. Although that land wasn’t in the city center, whether it was used to continue building the industries Xiao Ji was currently involved in or for something else, it was basically a guaranteed profit.
When the news first came out, many people had already set their sights on it. Countless people sent gifts in secret, hoping to secure the land early.
But in the end, the authorities still issued a document deciding to sell it in the form of an auction, with the highest bidder winning.
The Xiao family could afford the money. However, not long ago, a very close old friend of Father Xiao’s had organized a gathering and expressed, both openly and secretly, that he must have this land.
If the Xiao family came forward, it would inevitably damage their relationship.
Xiao Ji looked at the information on his phone. After a long while, he replied with one sentence:
[I will consider it.]
037 tsked: [The stairs were delivered to you, and you’re not taking them?]
Xiao Ji said faintly:
[Stairs also have several levels. If I go down at the first step, I’ll seem too easy to talk to.]
037’s eyelid twitched: [Since when did you become so money-grubbing? Aren’t you afraid the Little Phoenix will find out later and think you’re only with him for the money?]
Xiao Ji felt 037’s brain was somewhat incapable of making the turn:
[Does the Xiao family lack money?]
037 said: [They don’t lack it, but no one complains about having too much. Such a large piece of land, plus future profits—this is almost a cost-free business. It’s more than enough for you to watch a kid.]
Xiao Ji sneered: [I never said I would put this asset under the Xiao family’s name.]
He had been human for several lifetimes, after all. He definitely wanted the “stairs”—as Fang Yinnian had said a long time ago, one would be a bastard not to take advantage.
But Xiao Ji had other plans for this land and its subsequent profits.
He himself didn’t have high material desires, but when Chen Yinnian was in a manic phase, he loved spending money.
Chen Yinnian was also a member of the Chen family. Although Xiao Ji could afford to support him, Chen Ni had monopolized the inheritance rights. Xiao Ji wouldn’t be soft-hearted about securing what should be fought for on Chen Yinnian’s behalf.
They were all businessmen; Xiao Ji wasn’t a fool, and Chen Ni was even less of one.
Chen Ni was grasping at straws and could pay the initial “consultation fee,” but whether it was worth him continuing to pay depended on whether Xiao Ji truly had the ability.
Since Xiao Ji replied that he would consider it, Chen Ni also stopped making a sound.
But on the following day, Xiao Ji arrived at the Chen family’s door.
Father and Mother Chen weren’t home. When Xiao Ji arrived, it was the Chen family’s nanny who opened the main gate.
As soon as he entered the Chen family’s living room, he saw Chen Ni wearing pajamas, with dark circles under his eyes and unshaven stubble on his chin.
“I didn’t expect you to come.” Chen Ni shook hands with Xiao Ji and personally brewed tea for him.
Xiao Ji didn’t mention Chen Yinnian’s affairs, only placing the gifts he had brought by the table:
“Coming to talk business, and also a return of courtesy.”
He spoke directly, and Chen Ni didn’t mind: “Aren’t you being too formal?”
Xiao Ji looked at him: “Your complexion isn’t very good.”
Chen Ni touched the stubble on his chin, sighed, and gave a bitter smile:
“I can’t sleep. He’s very resistant to outsiders being too close to him right now. If this continues, I’m afraid I won’t make it past forty before I have to go first.”
“Remember to come to my funeral then, and give a larger gift.”
Xiao Ji refused: “I may not necessarily have the time. We’ll see when the time comes; if I’m not there, the gift will be.”
Chen Ni laughed and gave him a light punch on his arm:
“You kid, you’ll take any bait.”
037 had been monitoring Chen Yinnian’s condition, so Xiao Ji wasn’t too worried at the moment.
He took a slow sip of tea, still mentioning nothing.
But his arrival at the Chen family’s home signaled his attitude.
Ultimately, it was Chen Ni who spoke first, asking him: “Do you want to go see Yinnian? His state isn’t very good. He mentioned you last night.”
Xiao Ji nodded: “Lead the way.”
Chen Ni took Xiao Ji to the door of Chen Yinnian’s bedroom:
“I won’t go in. If he’s asleep, don’t disturb him. If he’s awake, you can talk to him.”
Xiao Ji hummed, walked into the room, and closed the door behind him. He asked 037:
[Is there surveillance?]
037 said: [Yes.]
Installing surveillance in a patient’s room wasn’t excessive; after all, it was for Chen Yinnian’s safety.
He resisted strangers’ proximity, and Chen Ni couldn’t stay with him twenty-four hours a day.
Special measures were always needed to prepare for unexpected needs.
Now that Xiao Ji was here, Chen Ni gave him plenty of space on the surface, but in reality, he was closely monitoring—it was only human nature.
The curtains were drawn in the room. Chen Yinnian was lying on the bed, curled into a ball, with most of his face buried in the quilt, leaving only the top of his fluffy head visible.
Xiao Ji walked to Chen Yinnian’s side, knelt on one knee on the floor, and said nothing, just quietly watching him.
Initially, Chen Yinnian thought it was Chen Ni returning.
He was very sleepy and tired, with no energy to speak to Chen Ni or interact with him.
But perhaps because Xiao Ji was too close to him, he smelled a hint of a familiar scent that didn’t belong to Chen Ni.
Only then did Chen Yinnian move his eyelids and look at Xiao Ji.
Yet he expressed no surprise or joy at Xiao Ji’s arrival, nor did he take the initiative to speak.
Xiao Ji reached out to touch his cheek: “I came to see you. Did you miss me?”
The moment he spoke, Chen Yinnian’s tears flowed from the corners of his eyes.
He actually didn’t know why he was crying.
But hearing Xiao Ji’s voice made him feel sad to the extreme.
Xiao Ji wiped away his tears with his thumb and whispered to him:
“You didn’t cry the night before last. Why are you crying now?”
Chen Yinnian still looked at Xiao Ji without speaking.
Xiao Ji asked him: “Want to hear a story?”
Chen Yinnian didn’t answer. He remained huddled on one side of the bed, almost to the point where he would fall to the floor if he turned over.
But he wouldn’t turn over; he remained fixed on this side, motionless.
Hearing Xiao Ji speak to him, after a long while, he slightly moved his body, seemingly making space for Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji then sat beside Chen Yinnian, reached one hand into the quilt to hold Chen Yinnian’s warm fingertips, and then, in his emotionless tone, began to tell a story.
Chen Yinnian’s state wasn’t good, so Xiao Ji wouldn’t tell him The Little Match Girl.
He recalled a relatively optimistic and uplifting story and told him about The Little Mermaid.
Then, as he told it, Xiao Ji himself fell silent.
Chen Yinnian still kept his eyes open, staring back at Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji said to him: “Sorry.”
Chen Yinnian pinched Xiao Ji’s finger. The tears that couldn’t be stopped a moment ago finally ceased.
Xiao Ji laughed softly: “Little kitten, get well soon. Teach me how to dive, okay? Young people shouldn’t always lie here so lifelessly.”
Chen Yinnian didn’t speak for a long time.
He closed his eyes again, looking as if he had fallen asleep.
Just as Xiao Ji was about to stand up, he heard Chen Yinnian suddenly say in a small voice:
“Hug me.”
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