Chapter 195: You Are My Medicine (20)
As they left the hospital, Xiao Ji stood by the roadside for a long time without moving.
Chen Yinnian looked at him and thought for a moment. “Brother, I want to take Zhang Heng out for a meal.”
Xiao Ji asked him, “Do you feel guilty?”
Chen Yinnian nodded. “A lot of the time, I find it hard to control my actions. I…”
If he were still in the middle of an episode, he might have quickly forgotten about hurting someone and let others clean up after him.
But he was lucid now, and he wanted to apologize to Zhang Heng himself.
Xiao Ji simply said “okay.”
Chen Yinnian added, “I want to go alone.”
Xiao Ji frowned.
Chen Yinnian said, “I swear I won’t suddenly go crazy again. I want to handle my own mess for once.”
An apology should be said in person, regardless.
Despite Chen Yinnian’s words, Xiao Ji couldn’t be completely at ease.
He made the appointment with Zhang Heng, booked the restaurant, and personally drove Chen Yinnian to the building. He told him:
“Go on. I’ll be waiting for you down here.”
Chen Yinnian had wanted Xiao Ji to go back first, but he knew Xiao Ji was worried. He didn’t insist, simply saying “okay” before heading into the restaurant.
He arrived early and sat by the window in a daze for a while before Zhang Heng came rushing in.
Seeing Chen Yinnian, Zhang Heng instinctively asked:
“Young Master Chen, are you here by yourself?”
Chen Yinnian stood up and nodded. He made a gesture for him to sit. “Don’t worry. That day… was an accident.”
Zhang Heng gave a dry laugh, his scalp feeling a bit tight.
The two sat across from each other, and Chen Yinnian signaled for the server to bring the food.
Neither of them spoke while the dishes were being served. The atmosphere was heavy and awkward.
Only after the server left the private room and closed the door did Chen Yinnian clear his throat and say:
“I’m very sorry. My brother probably told you, but my mental state isn’t very good. That day, I…”
“Young Master Chen, please don’t say that.”
Zhang Heng quickly interrupted him. “To be honest, I was angry at the time. After all, it was a bolt from the blue, and I’m not exactly short on money.”
“But President Chen was very sincere when he found me. We talked about your situation, and I understand.”
Chen Yinnian rubbed his nose. “But Xiao Ji made you come and apologize. He did it for me. I lost my temper and said some really sharp things to him…”
“I know he only wanted to prove that he didn’t doubt me. Placating me was only part of it; he was afraid I’d realize I was hallucinating and start doubting myself.”
As he spoke, his nose began to sting again.
Zhang Heng took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and scratched his head. “Actually, regarding this matter… when President Chen found me, he had already apologized and paid compensation.”
“The matter of the apology… they only offered terms. They said if I were willing, President Xiao could provide some conveniences for me, but it didn’t matter if I wasn’t.”
“Honestly, I’d already taken the beating. But opportunities like this are rare. If I hadn’t happened to get揍 (beaten up) by you, I wouldn’t have even known where to start looking for someone as powerful as President Xiao.”
Chen Yinnian pursed his lips, his gaze lowered. “I was afraid they were using me to coerce people.”
Zhang Heng said, “Maybe I sound spineless, but in fact, the benefits President Xiao brought me are worth far more than that beating.”
“I’m a businessman. To me, President Chen and President Xiao were simply offering reasonable terms for a trade. To put it another way, if they had asked first and then let me take a beating from you, I still would have agreed.”
“Young Master Chen, do you understand what I mean?”
Xiao Ji sat in his car, watching the broadcast from 037 in silence.
[037: What if Zhang Heng hadn’t agreed? Would you have forced him?]
Xiao Ji was silent for a long time.
[Xiao Ji: Do you want the truth?]
[037: Yes.]
[Xiao Ji: No.]
[037: I thought you’d changed.]
Xiao Ji didn’t deny it.
[Xiao Ji: Because this matter wasn’t critical. If the stakes were higher—if it concerned Chen Yinnian’s life—I can’t guarantee what I would do.]
037 pondered for a moment and said honestly:
[037: If you had gone through this back then, you wouldn’t have been punished and sent down here.]
[Xiao Ji: Everyone must take responsibility for their actions, and I’m no exception. I’ll resign once I return.]
Back when the Phoenix had self-immolated to resist the demons single-handedly, Xiao Ji had merely picked him up after the battle was over.
In those days, he was perfectly capable of being a cold bystander to things that didn’t involve him. But now, he was already bound by his “soft spot.”
[037: Have you made up your mind?]
Xiao Ji gave a hum and said no more.
Only today did he truly understand the words Fang Yinnian had once said.
There are levels of closeness between people; favoritism and bias are only natural.
Xiao Ji’s heart was now biased. He could no longer be the one to hold the scales of the law.
He understood this better than anyone.
Chen Yinnian knew nothing of this. He and Zhang Heng had a great conversation and even exchanged contact info before parting after the meal.
When he returned to the car, his cheeks were flushed; he looked like he’d been drinking.
“Did it go well?” Xiao Ji pushed aside his thoughts and asked.
Chen Yinnian nodded, looking to be in high spirits as he chatted idly with Xiao Ji.
Once home, he called Chen Ni and then his parents, offering both apologies and thanks.
He acted just like a child who had reflected on his mistakes.
But whether it was Xiao Ji or the Chen family, they all knew this was only a temporary facade.
Chen Yinnian was still a ticking time bomb.
He was the most obedient little darling in the world when he was well, but a soul-draining little demon once the illness hit.
But at a time like this, no one wanted to rain on his parade.
This peaceful period lasted quite a while—about a month.
But beneath the calm, both Xiao Ji and Chen Yinnian were waiting for the other set of symptoms to arrive at any moment.
Under normal circumstances, Xiao Ji’s life was very disciplined.
He had fixed times for waking up, eating, sleeping, and working.
Chen Yinnian followed his lead, becoming disciplined as well, spending every day happily clinging to Xiao Ji.
When Chen Yinnian didn’t wake up by noon one day, Xiao Ji knew the depressive phase had returned.
Xiao Ji had realized something was wrong when Chen Yinnian hadn’t gotten up with him that morning. He informed the casino that he wouldn’t be coming in for a few days.
He went to call Chen Yinnian, but the boy gave no reaction at all.
It wasn’t until noon that Chen Yinnian finally opened his eyes. Xiao Ji felt his forehead and asked softly:
“Is anything wrong?”
Chen Yinnian moved slightly, pressing Xiao Ji’s hand beneath his cheek, and shook his head.
His reactions were slow. After a long while, he finally said to Xiao Ji:
“Brother, I’m so tired.”
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