Chapter 15: An Unexpected Reunion

“Alright, stop messing around. I need to go out for a bit. Can you watch the kids at home?”

“Messing around?”

Ji Xiao chuckled deeply. He caught Zhou Jinzhu’s hands to prevent him from poking again, then kissed him fiercely until Zhou Jinzhu was breathless.

“They’re all in middle school now. What could possibly happen at home? I’ll go out with you.”

Zhou Jinzhu hesitated for a moment. “Alright then.”

Zhou Jinzhu was a full-time author, writing novels online. Several of his books had already sold their copyrights and been adapted into animations or TV dramas.

Today, he was heading out to sign a contract.

The film and television rights for a recently completed youth drama of his had been sold.

Ji Xiao drove him to the restaurant where he had an appointment.

“Go on. I’ll wait for you outside.”

“Do you want to go for a walk? I’ll call you when I’m done.”

“Mhm, you go ahead. I’ll find a place to park.”

“Okay.”

Zhou Jinzhu unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned over to kiss Ji Xiao’s cheek, and then got out of the car with a beaming smile.

Black Cat: “The shopping mall is just ahead; there are parking spaces there.”

“Mhm.”

Just as Ji Xiao’s car was about to start, he noticed someone lying in front of it.

“Is he faking an accident?”

Black Cat: “No, that’s Mo Lin. He’s having an appendicitis attack. Don’t worry, a girl will come to save him soon and take him to the hospital.”

Ji Xiao: “……”

He sat in the car for two minutes.

People gradually gathered nearby, keeping their distance. Some watched the spectacle, others took photos.

Not a single person stepped forward to help.

They were all discussing whether the man was trying to stage an accident.

That fated person, destined to save Mo Lin, had not yet arrived.

Ji Xiao opened the car door, leaned over, and lifted Mo Lin into the passenger seat. He buckled him in and drove to the nearest hospital.

He also called emergency services to explain the situation.

“Yes, it seems to be acute appendicitis. I’ve checked, and there’s no traffic. I should arrive at your hospital within six or seven minutes. Okay, thank you. My license plate number is…”

Mo Lin’s face was deathly pale from the pain.

Upon seeing Ji Xiao’s face clearly, his heart clenched, and even breathing became agonizing.

His consciousness gradually blurred from the intense pain.

The drive, which was only a few minutes long, felt as drawn out as a century.

When the car arrived at the hospital, medical staff immediately came forward and wheeled Mo Lin away.

Ji Xiao parked the car, then followed them to pay the fees.

Black Cat sighed dramatically. “Oh, you just stole the female lead’s scene.”

As Ji Xiao waited in line to pay, he said indifferently, “What if he had died of pain before the female lead even showed up?”

Black Cat: “How could that happen? That’s the plot! Normally, there are no accidents…”

“Isn’t my appearance the accident?”

“……” That’s true.

It had been foolish.

When it and its host arrived in this world, the plot could only serve as a reference, not a fixed destiny.

Just as Mo Lin’s surgery finished, Zhou Jinzhu called.

Ji Xiao ignored the call and followed the medical staff to Mo Lin’s hospital room.

Only after confirming his room did Ji Xiao step out to return Zhou Jinzhu’s call.

“Brother Xiao, I’m done! You’ve been waiting for a long time, haven’t you? It’s all their fault and my editor’s for talking so much and taking so long. My new book hasn’t even started, yet they were already discussing it.”

“That’s because every book you release is a masterpiece.”

“Haha, Brother Xiao, where are you?”

“At Xishi Hospital. I…”

“Hospital? What happened to you? I’m coming right over!”

“Don’t rush, I’m fine. I ran into an old friend on the way, he…”

Ji Xiao told Zhou Jinzhu the room number before returning to the ward.

Mo Lin lay in the hospital bed, his face pale, his brows furrowed with an unshakeable melancholy.

Ji Xiao walked to the bedside and looked down at him. “Long time no see, Brother Lin.”

Mo Lin slightly turned his head, avoiding Ji Xiao’s gaze. His lips trembled slightly, but he didn’t utter a single word.

“When did Brother Lin return?”

In the original plot, Sheng Xiao was supposed to meet him two months later.

By then, Mo Lin and the female lead would have already known each other.

They were meant to meet today.

But Ji Xiao had interfered.

Mo Lin closed his eyes, his voice hoarse. “Last month.”

Ji Xiao: “What did you come back for?”

Mo Lin: “My sister got married, so I came back to develop my career too.”

Ji Xiao walked to the water dispenser and poured him a glass of water. “Oh? You have a sister?”

“She was adopted later.”

Ji Xiao reached out, placing a hand behind Mo Lin’s neck, and gently lifted his head. “Open your eyes, drink some water.”

Mo Lin: “……” ‘That’s really not necessary.’

Ji Xiao showed no intention of withdrawing his hand, so Mo Lin had no choice but to open his eyes and take a couple of small sips.

Only when Ji Xiao was sure he genuinely didn’t want to drink anymore did he retract his hand and place the water on the nearby table.

“In the past, I wronged you.”

Mo Lin’s face tightened, offering no response.

That night, he had been violently violated by his trusted friend, leaving him covered in scars, and he immediately moved away.

When he woke from his dreams, he always recalled the horrific scene of his helpless pleas only resulting in more forceful impacts.

Over the years, he hadn’t even dared to make friends, much less smile at anyone again.

To those who showed him kindness, he feared they would become another Sheng Xiao.

“Should I notify your aunt and uncle?”

Mo Lin: “I’ll notify them. How much were the fees? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

“Knock, knock, knock.”

After a knock, the door opened.

Zhou Jinzhu entered, carrying a box of fruit. “Brother Xiao, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Ji Xiao took the fruit from his hands and placed it by the bed.

Zhou Jinzhu walked to his side and smiled gently at Mo Lin. “Hello, my name is Zhou Jinzhu. I’m Brother Xiao’s friend.”

Ji Xiao added, “Boyfriend.”

Zhou Jinzhu glanced at him, not resisting.

Mo Lin’s eyes were vacant, and he mechanically extended his hand. “My name is Mo Lin.”

How could he not recognize that Zhou Jinzhu’s smile was strikingly similar to his own when he was younger?

In the past, his gentle and warm smile had been praised by so many… Later, he destroyed all photos of himself smiling.

Because that night, Sheng Xiao had repeatedly said that he had descended with a gentle smile, becoming the light in his dark world.

He had then fallen, unable to let go.

The Zhou Jinzhu before him, apart from his slender phoenix eyes, even his face resembled Mo Lin’s own.

Sheng Xiao… what was he doing?

Zhou Jinzhu gently shook Mo Lin’s hand, then released it. “Brother Xiao said you had appendicitis. Rest well, and when you’re better, we’ll treat you to a meal.”

Mo Lin lowered his head, not daring to look at him. “Thank you.”

Ji Xiao took Zhou Jinzhu’s hand. “Let’s go.”

Zhou Jinzhu looked around. “But, he…”

“He’ll notify his family to come.”

“Alright, then. Mo Lin, we’ll be leaving now.”

Mo Lin didn’t look up. “Okay.”

Leaving the hospital and sitting in the car, Zhou Jinzhu frowned. “That friend of yours is strange.”

Ji Xiao gripped the steering wheel, looking straight ahead. “How is he strange?”

“I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it just feels a bit odd.”

Zhou Jinzhu crossed his arms, his brow slightly furrowed.

The entire atmosphere in the ward had felt off.

And Mo Lin’s reaction after Ji Xiao said he was his boyfriend…

Before Zhou Jinzhu could delve deeper, Ji Xiao sighed softly. “He was my first love.”

Zhou Jinzhu: “……”

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