Chapter 75: The Miracle Kiss

The next day, Ji Xiao went to the company.

Editor Xiang Zhi looked at the drafts he handed in, somewhat surprised. “You’re being this proactive? But you didn’t have to come all the way to the company to hand these in, did you? Are you plotting something?”

Ji Xiao smiled. “I’ve rested for a while. Thought I’d come out and take a stroll.”

Xiang Zhi understood.

He was under her charge. She was well aware of his reputation and behavior.

She figured he was feeling “lonely” again, coming to the company to find a new target.

Her head ached. “Can’t you just look outside? So many people in the company have already been… Are you trying to turn the company into your playground?”

Ji Xiao said gently, “I haven’t done much in the company. There are so many departments and employees here—I’ve only slept with a little over twenty.” The rest were from outside.

“’A little over twenty’ my ass! I don’t interfere with your private life, but you can’t go too far. I don’t care about outside, but I absolutely forbid you from messing around in the company.”

“I won’t.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

Xiang Zhi waved him off impatiently. “Then go.” With that face, if he took a spin around the company, even if he didn’t make the first move, someone would try to hit on him.

And he never turned anyone down.

Headache.

She had tried to advise him before, but it was useless. Eventually she just gave up.

Ji Xiao smiled and took his leave, exiting the comics department.

In a hallway, he saw Ruan Jier, who had just turned the corner and was about to walk over.

Ruan Jier stopped the moment he saw him.

“Little Yu.”

Ji Xiao stopped too.

A man with a crew cut, ordinary features but a good figure, came up from behind and draped his arm over Ji Xiao’s shoulder.

Black Cat: “Zhao Zhen from the post-production department. Xiao Shiyu has hooked up with him.”

Ji Xiao pried his hand off.

Zhao Zhen didn’t mind. He grabbed Ji Xiao’s arm and pulled him into the nearby supply closet, closing the door behind them.

Ruan Jier’s pupils contracted. He wanted to step forward, but felt he had no standing.

They probably knew each other, right?

He didn’t need to meddle…

But the animation department was this way. This was the only path.

Ruan Jier slowly walked forward. When he reached the supply closet door, he couldn’t help but stop.

“Let me go.” It was Ji Xiao’s voice.

Ruan Jier frowned.

“Little Yu, don’t be like this. I miss you so much.”

Ji Xiao reached for the door.

“Don’t leave—”

Zhao Zhen grabbed his arm and pinned him against the wall.

“Why? What’s wrong with me? Why are you pushing me away?” Last time, wasn’t it fun?

Hadn’t he said he wouldn’t refuse any invitation?

Ji Xiao restrained the urge to kick him over. Since nothing serious had happened, he said in a controlled voice, “Get away from me. Let me out.”

“You…”

Hearing the suppressed tone in Ji Xiao’s voice, Ruan Jier couldn’t resist opening the door.

He immediately saw Ji Xiao pinned against the wall and Zhao Zhen, who looked somewhat angry.

He stepped forward quickly and pulled Zhao Zhen away.

Zhao Zhen looked at him, realization dawning. “So today there’s someone already. I’ll find you another time.”

Zhao Zhen left without hesitation.

No wonder he was rejected today—he already had plans. He’d heard that in the past the seniors even had to queue up.

Oh well, he’d try again next time.

As he left, he even had the courtesy to close the door.

Ruan Jier turned back to look at Ji Xiao, whose eyes were slightly red. Awkwardly, he asked, “Are you okay?”

Ji Xiao shook his head gently.

“Then I’ll go…”

Ruan Jier thought that she must be in a bad mood and probably needed some time alone.

Just as he was about to open the door, a hand reached over his shoulder and pressed against the door.

Ruan Jier turned around in surprise. “You…” You don’t even make a sound when walking?

The supply closet had no lights on. Even though it was daytime, the light was dim.

Even so, Ruan Jier could clearly see the face of the delicate Ji Xiao in front of him, those eyes complicated with hidden pain.

Just as he was about to say something to comfort her, Ji Xiao pressed forward.

Lips met.

“Mmph—”

Ruan Jier raised his hand to push him away, but Ji Xiao grabbed his hand, lifted it above his head, and pinned it against the door.

The lips were soft, different from that kiss last time that smelled of alcohol.

Tender, lingering.

The occasional soft gasp escaping made him involuntarily think of the scene he had rehearsed with Brother Xiao last night.

Beauty in his arms, sinking into tenderness.

Ruan Jier’s eyes shifted subtly. His other hand, the one not pinned, subconsciously wrapped around him, and he closed his eyes, also getting lost in the moment.

Ji Xiao was the first to pull away.

“Sorry.”

His voice carried a restrained gentleness. He pulled away from Ruan Jier, opened the door, and ran out.

Ruan Jier, who had been nearly yanked off balance, was left bewildered.

What was that?

A hint of shame and anger crept into his clear eyes.

Was he being toyed with?

Ruan Jier submitted the request and received the audio file Ji Xiao had sent. ‘It’s almost done, I haven’t even started recording yet.’

‘Since it’s already done, I recorded it. First time recording, I don’t know how it’ll turn out. Hope the senior can give some pointers.’

‘Okay, I’m listening.’

To be fair, Brother Xiao’s recording was perfect. Clear enunciation, emotions on point.

Then he reached the heavy breathing scene of the drunk performance. In his ears, Brother Xiao’s panting seemed to blend with…

He thought of himself being immersed in that moment.

His body gradually lost control.

He listened while unable to stop pondering.

The reason he was standing at attention—was it because of Brother Xiao’s acting, or because of daytime’s kiss with the young lady?

Ruan Jier stopped the audio.

Brother Xiao: [How is it?]

Ruan Jier: [It’s perfect. No need for revisions. Though I didn’t finish listening, I know from the first part that you won’t make any mistakes in the later part either.] As long as the quality stays consistent.

Brother Xiao: [When will you start recording? I can’t wait to have our voices blend together.]

The words seemed a bit odd, but he couldn’t find fault with them, so he had to reply: [I’ll do it as soon as possible.]

Recently he had been auditioning at the company, hoping to land the lead role in an upcoming animated series. After that, time might be tight.

He’d just record it in the next couple of days.

Brother Xiao: [I’m looking forward to it.]

Ruan Jier didn’t reply. He leaned back in his chair and, in resignation, unzipped and reached down.

“Damn beauty.”

Do it yourself and have plenty.

But Ji Xiao’s delicate face kept appearing together with Brother Xiao’s voice…

“I’m screwed.”

Now the question was: was he straight or bent?

Had he been single too long, to the point his body was out of control?

…

Two days later, Ruan Jier sent one copy of his completed recording to Brother Xiao and another to the club president.

The company’s audition results weren’t out yet. He had planned to go out and buy some groceries to stock the fridge, but then he got another call from Ji Xiao.

He only realized it was Ji Xiao’s call after answering.

Since he’d already picked up, hanging up would be rude, so he politely said, “Hello, what’s the matter?”

“Call an… ambulance for me… beep beep beep—”

“?”

Ruan Jier scratched his head.

Drunk again?

Huh?

No, this time he directly asked him to call an ambulance.

Was he sick? In trouble?

Then why didn’t he just call the ambulance himself!

After hesitating for less than a minute, Ruan Jier grabbed his keys and ran out.

“Beauty is a disaster!”

Last time.

If he was being messed with again, he wouldn’t care about him anymore!

In the taxi, Ruan Jier dialed the ambulance number while heading toward Ji Xiao’s apartment.

He arrived before the ambulance.

This time the door was tightly shut. He knocked, sweating and panting.

It took a long time before the door opened.

Then came a thud as something fell to the ground.

Ruan Jier strode inside.

Seeing Ji Xiao curled up on the floor, drenched in cold sweat, he crouched down anxiously and lifted him. “Are you okay? Hey, what’s wrong? Is it your stomach acting up?”

Ji Xiao leaned against him, his face pale, his delicate lips bitten bloody.

Ruan Jier carried him out quickly, shut the door, and hurried downstairs.

Luckily, as soon as he left the apartment building, he ran into the ambulance coming his way.

Inside the ambulance, the nurse calmly did a preliminary check on Ji Xiao but couldn’t reach any conclusion. “Tranquilizer. We can’t let him keep biting. If he bites his tongue, it’ll be bad.”

“No good. His jaw is clenched tight. Can’t pry it open.”

“The tranquilizer isn’t working…”

“He’s bleeding. Did he bite his tongue? Pry it open now!”

Ruan Jier was growing anxious hearing this. Why wasn’t he opening his mouth?

In his desperation, he moved right next to the nurse, leaned down, and kissed Ji Xiao.

Ji Xiao instinctively opened his mouth and kissed back.

The nurse exclaimed in surprise, “His rapid heartbeat is dropping, high fever is coming down, and…”

“Don’t stop. Keep calming him until we reach the hospital.”

“Strange. Why isn’t the tranquilizer working?”

“…”

Black Cat: “Foolish mortals. The medicine bought with points isn’t that simple.”

But the host is truly ruthless.

Ruan Jier didn’t kiss him the whole way. Halfway there, Ji Xiao relaxed and passed out.

A junior nurse muttered, “Is this the miracle of love?”

Ruan Jier: “…”

His face flushed as he stepped back and sat down.

There was still the taste of blood in his mouth, but it didn’t feel disgusting.

Hospital. Ward.

The doctor asked, “What is your relationship to him?”

“Friend,” Ruan Jier said nervously. “What’s wrong with him?”

“We found a stubborn drug residue in his body. Currently, we have no way to remove it, and we don’t know its effect. We’ve extracted some of it, and we’ll need to run tests to find out.” The doctor’s expression was serious. “Has he shown any unusual symptoms lately?”

Ruan Jier was a bit dazed. “I… I don’t know. Maybe we should ask him when he wakes up? When will he wake up?”

Ruan Jier blushed. “I, I just wanted to make him open his mouth. I was afraid he’d bite his tongue…”

“I suspect there’s something about you that calms him down. Would you mind undergoing an examination?”

“Ah, okay.”

In a daze, Ruan Jier underwent a series of tests under guidance, cooperating with the samples, his mind full of question marks.

The lady was sick?

I’m the antidote?

Pfft! What crazy thoughts!

“Doctor Gu, Doctor Gu—” A nurse ran in, out of breath. “The patient is agitated again. He seems to be in pain, rapid heartbeat, high fever, and…”

Doctor Gu grabbed Ruan Jier and ran to the ward, pushing him in front of the bed. “Kiss him.”

Ruan Jier: “…”

“Kiss him. Isn’t he your lover? Look how much pain he’s in.”

“…” Fine, kiss then!

Saving a life!

Sure enough, under Ruan Jier’s kissing comfort, Ji Xiao gradually calmed down, relaxed, and even opened his eyes, regaining consciousness.

Ruan Jier: “…” This feels so surreal.

Seeing him awake, Ruan Jier instinctively stepped back.

Doctor Gu stepped forward and waved a hand in front of Ji Xiao. “Are you clear-headed?”

Ji Xiao’s voice was hoarse as he hummed in affirmation, but his gaze was fixed on Ruan Jier, who was looking down at the floor.

“Your episode came on suddenly. You had no ID on you. Your boyfriend… Is he your boyfriend?”

“No.” Not yet.

“No wonder. He couldn’t even say your name,” Doctor Gu said. “A while ago, when I said you two were lovers, he didn’t deny it. Looks like he’s an admirer of yours. He was the one who brought you to the hospital. Do you know what happened to you?”

Ji Xiao: “I’m sick?”

Doctor Gu: “Your condition is quite complicated. What’s your name? Can we notify your family to come?”

“Xiao Shiyu. I have no family,” Ji Xiao said weakly. “I can make my own decisions. Doctor, no need to hold back. Do I have some terminal illness?”

Hearing this, Ruan Jier looked up at Ji Xiao.

No family…?

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