Chapter 24: A Farewell, A Name, and a New Beginning

“What’s happening?” Ji Xiao asked.

“Mo Lin fainted in the bathroom, and the water’s still running! Hurry, go save him!”

“…”

Ji Xiao strode quickly toward the study. “A-Zhu, I’m heading downstairs. It seems something’s happened to Mo Lin.”

Zhou Jinzhu, who was typing away at his computer, looked up. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

“Mm.”

****

Watching them leave, one after the other, Black Cat felt a wave of despair. “Why did you call him? If he asks how you knew Mo Lin was in trouble, what will you say?”

Ji Xiao responded, “Perhaps you should explain why he fainted.”

“He was showering, and all the doors and windows were tightly shut. The water was too hot, and he ran out of oxygen.”

‘…How foolish.’

Mo Lin hadn’t changed the password. Ji Xiao opened the door directly and headed straight for the master bedroom’s bathroom with a clear purpose.

Zhou Jinzhu followed behind him, a hint of helplessness in his expression. There was truly no attempt at concealment.

Ji Xiao opened the bathroom door and went inside, immediately turning off the water. Zhou Jinzhu raised an eyebrow, pulled down a hanging bathrobe, and stepped forward to pick up Mo Lin.

As soon as he was placed on the bed, Mo Lin regained consciousness. Zhou Jinzhu considerately poured him a glass of water. “Are you alright?”

“I…” Mo Lin began, then suddenly looked up as if remembering something. There was no one else in the room, only he and Zhou Jinzhu.

Zhou Jinzhu spoke gently. “Little Lin had a favorite toy he’d left here, and he was crying for it. When I rang the doorbell and got no response, I took the liberty of coming in.”

Mo Lin, now wearing the bathrobe, sat up. “Thank you.”

“After I came in…”

****

In the hallway outside the door, Ji Xiao leaned against the wall, smoking a cigarette, his expression unreadable.

Black Cat, nestled deep within his consciousness, quietly contacted its team leader.

[Team Leader, are you there?]

[Speak.]

To its surprise, the team leader replied instantly. Black Cat, flattered, proceeded to explain its host’s situation, fretting:

[My host doesn’t seem to want to be a scumbag, ah. He appears cold and heartless, but his heart seems a bit soft. What should I do?]

[…]

‘This isn’t a soft heart; it’s merely a matter of principle,’ the team leader thought.

[Wuwuwu, I’m so scared, ah. If I fail three worlds, I’ll be sent back for reconstruction, wuwuwu.]

[Didn’t you complete the last world?]

[He was just cutting corners, sigh. I’m scared. I don’t even dare tell him the consequences of failure.]

If Ji Xiao knew the failure count was negative three, he would definitely abandon the mission in the previous world and send it to its demise.

[Don’t worry. It’s just the beginning. After he experiences a few more worlds, his heart will turn to iron.]

Black Cat pondered this and realized it made sense. The more worlds he experienced, the more unyielding its host would become.

[Um, Team Leader, can I change my form?]

[Why?]

[My host is afraid of cats…]

[No.]

[…]

‘Sigh.’

Just as Ji Xiao finished his cigarette, Zhou Jinzhu emerged.

“He’s fine now. Let’s go.”

“En.”

****

Upon returning home, Zhou Jinzhu asked, “How did you—”

Ji Xiao leaned in, intending to kiss him.

Zhou Jinzhu, smiling, reached out to push his face away.

“Shoo, shoo, shoo, you smell of tobacco.”

Ji Xiao chuckled. “Shall I go brush my teeth then?”

Zhou Jinzhu waved a hand. “Just go. I’m going to continue writing my outline. My editor keeps rushing me to start a new project.”

“Alright, I’m going.”

Ji Xiao actually went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. However, just as Zhou Jinzhu’s thoughts had cleared and he had barely typed two lines, Ji Xiao burst in and ‘sat’ on him, showering him with kisses.

****

That evening, Ji Xiao went to pick up the children. Zhou Jinzhu received a call from Xie Wei.

“Where’s the outline? Didn’t you say it would be ready today?”

Zhou Jinzhu’s voice was deep. “The demon in my house was too enchanting; I couldn’t resist.”

“?” Xie Wei prompted. “Speak like a human.”

“Oh, I spent the whole day, um, being taken.”

“…”

Xie Wei hung up the phone expressionlessly.

****

On the day Qu Qian moved in, Ji Xiao didn’t go to pick her up. Instead, he simply gave her the phone number. After that, he no longer bothered with Mo Lin. As long as Mo Lin remained in his house, he didn’t consider him released.

During the National Day holiday, Ji Xiao and Zhou Jinzhu took the two children and flew abroad, enjoying the entire break.

They made no secret of their relationship from the children. Whether it was Qu Qian’s immense charm or simply the passage of time, Mo Lin gradually let go once he realized Ji Xiao genuinely didn’t interfere with anything he did.

A smile slowly returned to his face.

By the time Ji Xiao received the wedding invitation from Qu Qian and Mo Lin, Sheng Lin and Qin Ce had already graduated from junior high and were on holiday.

Qu Qian personally delivered the invitation.

“Brother Sheng, we bought a new marital home…”

Ji Xiao asked, “Are you uncomfortable living there?”

Qu Qian paused. “But it is your house, after all…”

Ji Xiao said, “Consider that apartment my wedding gift to you both. Move in there; don’t move again. Just live in that place.”

Qu Qian’s brow furrowed slightly.

“I’ve already written my will. After my passing, that apartment will belong to you.” Ji Xiao beckoned to her, then went into the room to retrieve the will and show it to her.

Qu Qian read through it with a complex mix of emotions. Aside from that apartment, Ji Xiao had already transferred all his other assets into Zhou Jinzhu’s name. The will clearly stated that upon his death, the apartment would belong to Mo Lin.

Qu Qian’s face darkened. “Frankly, I already know what you did to Brother Mo. I don’t know if it was an impulse at the time or something else, but you deeply hurt him.”

“I know,” Ji Xiao replied.

“You don’t know,” Qu Qian took a deep breath. “He’s moved on, and you have your own family now. Why won’t you let him go?”

“As long as he lives there, I won’t interfere with anything he does,” Ji Xiao looked at her intently. “Hurting Mo Lin is the greatest regret of my life. He must remain under my watchful eye, otherwise, I will never find peace.”

Qu Qian asked incredulously, “Just for your own peace of mind?”

Ji Xiao stated, “Living there, your lives will not be interfered with in any way.”

Qu Qian threw the invitation on the ground and stormed off in a huff.

Ultimately, Qu Qian and Mo Lin didn’t move. However, they subsequently reduced their contact with Ji Xiao and his family, avoiding meetings whenever possible. Although they lived in the same building, their encounters were few and far between.

****

Zhou Jinzhu lived to be seventy-two. His aged, trembling hand clutched Ji Xiao’s. “I was always so afraid you would leave midway.”

Ji Xiao gently stroked his head. “I told you, we would grow old together, and share the same grave.”

Zhou Jinzhu slowly tightened his grip on Ji Xiao’s hand. “Your… name.”

Black Cat gasped in alarm. [Holy cow! Does he know you’re not the real person?! You can’t tell him! If you do and he confirms it, the mission will fail!!]

Seeing that this world was about to end, its host absolutely couldn’t mess things up now!

Ji Xiao lowered his head and kissed Zhou Jinzhu’s wrinkled forehead, whispering softly, “Ji Xiao.”

“Ji Xiao…”

Zhou Jinzhu’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “I’m so glad you came from afar to accompany me through life.”

His gaze gradually unfocused, and the hand holding Ji Xiao’s slowly lost its strength. Just as his hand was about to slip away, Ji Xiao gripped it firmly, pressing it against his own forehead.

Black Cat shrieked. [Ahhh! Forced protection mechanism activated! Mission failed! We have to go!]

When Sheng Lin and Qin Ce returned, they witnessed Ji Xiao’s body falling towards Zhou Jinzhu’s.

Sheng Lin looked a little lost. “Dad and Father Zhou…”

Qin Ce gently comforted him. “They left together, very peacefully.”

****

Upon arriving at the small hill in the system space, Ji Xiao immediately closed his eyes. “Teleport, teleport! Next world!”

Black Cat sneered. “If you hadn’t admitted it, if you hadn’t told him your real name, this mission might have had a chance to complete!”

It had originally planned to tell him about the mission rewards after it ended. But now, forget it. They’d cancel each other out. What rewards were there anyway?

“Teleport, teleport, teleport!”

Seeing him with his eyes closed, refusing to open them, Black Cat grumpily ran over and hugged his leg. “Meow meow meow~ Meow—”

Ji Xiao kicked his leg. “Get lost—!”

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