Chapter 104

Ji Wei’s face grew even hotter, and he quickly shook his head.

Lu Shenxing unhurriedly buttoned up his collar. As he fastened the last button, he said, “There.”

His cool knuckles brushed against his fragile throat.

Faintly—

The skin that was touched couldn’t help but tremble. He managed a difficult “mhm” and pressed the button for their floor.

Although Lu Shenxing disliked cameras in private and there were no surveillance cameras in the elevator, kissing in an elevator was still one of the most outrageous things he had ever done in his life.

The reason it was “one of” was because the other was secretly marrying Lu Shenxing.

When they got home, Ji Wei watered the cactus that Huang Bo kept on the terrace to sunbathe.

Lu Shenxing opened the refrigerator and washed a box of cherries for him.

Ji Wei took the cherries. Before he could say “thank you,” he heard the man speak in a toneless voice, “I’m joining the film crew next Monday.”

His hand holding the box paused.

It wasn’t uncommon for actors in the entertainment industry to work on multiple projects at once, but every time Lu Shenxing filmed, he would stay with the crew until his character’s scenes were wrapped, even if he didn’t have scenes every day. He truly immersed himself completely in his roles.

He had known for a while that filming for Becoming King would start at the end of September, but when the day of parting actually arrived, he still found it a bit hard to accept.

He felt he was being too greedy.

He didn’t want Lu Shenxing to think he was greedy.

So he lowered his head, sniffled, and said with forced cheerfulness, “So, is this a bribe?”

It was just a joke.

But the man bent down, picked up a cherry, and brought it to his lips, gazing at him. “It is a bribe.”

“Do you accept?” he asked, his tone serious.

Ji Wei’s heart unexpectedly skipped a beat.

He nodded and took a bite of the cherry.

It was a little sour.

But also so sweet.

***

Over the next few days, Ji Wei went through a busy week of starting school. He also went with Chen Yan and the others to Yancheng’s largest art supply store to purchase paints and paper for the upcoming semester.

A particular squirrel-hair brush he needed was sold out, so he had to order it online.

During this time, the show announced that he would be returning.

[The Forbidden City’s Little Shop] We regret that Grandpa Ma has withdrawn from the show due to health reasons, but this week we will also be welcoming back a familiar guest.

In less than five minutes, the comments broke a thousand.

Fifteen minutes later, it was the fourth trending topic!

[Life Isn’t Worth It] !!OMG! I’m so excited I stood up… uh… in class.

[But Lu Wei Is Worth It] Ahhhhhhh!! My Cub Wei, are you finally coming back? I’m definitely watching the live broadcast this week, no matter what.

[When is Ke Zhenyu Leaving the Show] Health reasons… more like he was angered by a certain someone, right? Originally, Xiao Chi’s and Zhao Yue’s fans were fighting so hard they were about to come to blows, but now they’ve unanimously turned against a common enemy. I’ve never seen such an infuriating guest. Can’t he just stick to acting and stay off variety shows?

[Looking Up and Thinking of the Bright Moon] Sob sob sob, will Weiwei be bullied by him? I’m suddenly so scared.

The online discussion was fervent, but Ji Wei’s heart was exceptionally calm.

Apart from being busy with school matters, he spent all his time with Lu Shenxing, cherishing the time before their separation.

On Friday, news came from the hospital about Lin Yishan.

“The good news is that Lin Yishan is awake.”

Because Ji Wei was leaving for St. Lawrence tonight to participate in the show, Huang Bo was packing a beef tallow hot pot base, beef jerky, and a large pile of snacks for him as he spoke.

Ji Wei’s spirits lifted.

After all, it was an old case from many years ago, and further investigation wouldn’t yield much.

He had many questions he wanted to ask Lin Yishan.

Not for any other reason.

Just to know the truth.

But his happiness didn’t last long, as Huang Bo poured cold water on it. “The bad news is, he refuses to say anything.”

Lu Shenxing was also checking Ji Wei’s suitcase. Hearing Huang Bo’s words, he raised an eyebrow. “It probably has to do with that daughter he adopted.”

“That makes it difficult,” Huang Bo sighed. “She’s with Lin Yiqiu.”

“Guns are banned in the country,” Huang Bo said to himself.

Ji Wei was speechless. Why does that sound like a regret?

If there were no controls, a criminal could take out at least one Huang Bo with a single shot.

He automatically ignored Huang Bo’s comment. “I still want to see him, if there’s time.”

“How about this, I’ll help you check in your luggage,” Huang Bo said, zipping up the suitcase. “A-Xing will accompany you to the hospital.”

Before he could nod, Lu Shenxing, as if sensing his thoughts, took his hand and said with his eyes lowered, “Let’s go.”

The driver took them to the hospital, a private hospital funded by the Lu family.

Walking into the hospital, there weren’t many patients.

“Mr. Lin’s room is in 402,” a nurse led them to the inpatient department.

There were many rooms on the fourth floor, but they were all closed except for 402. There were even guards stationed at the entrance, creating a tense, defensive atmosphere, as if they were guarding against someone.

Could it be Lin Yiqiu?

Ji Wei was startled by his own speculation.

He was probably overthinking it.

Pushing open the door to the hospital room, Lin Yishan lay on the bed with tubes all over his body, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.

He heard the door open but didn’t even glance at Ji Wei and Lu Shenxing. “It’s no use for you to come. I’ve already said what I needed to say.”

Just as Huang Bo had said, Lin Yishan refused to say anything.

Lu Shenxing narrowed his eyes and said faintly, “Yuanyuan is your biological daughter, isn’t she?”

Lin Yishan’s pupils contracted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I adopted her from abroad.”

“If she wasn’t—” Lu Shenxing’s tone remained faint. He paused and said, “why would Lin Yiqiu take her away?”

“There’s no need to act in front of me.”

Lin Yishan fell silent. He didn’t speak for a long time, finally closing his eyes and saying, “Let’s end it here.”

“If I’m not mistaken, Ye Lang’s name has already been cleared. Is the truth that important? It’s just a matter of everyone getting what they want,” Lin Yishan’s voice sounded somewhat weary.

“I’m tired.”

Lin Yishan said no more.

Ji Wei felt that the mystery had only deepened. If Yuanyuan was Lin Yishan’s biological child, why didn’t he acknowledge her, instead letting her live in the Lin family as an adopted daughter?

Did he have some unspeakable difficulty, or was he guarding against someone? All of this was now unknowable.

Unless Yuanyuan appeared before Lin Yishan, safe and sound.

But that wouldn’t be easy.

***

Huang Bo was at home alone, packing luggage for Weiwei and A-Xing.

It wasn’t as if they were going far, but he always worried the children would be cold or hungry, wishing he could pack everything he could think of.

Weiwei was going on a show, and A-Xing was going to film a movie. The thought that he would be all alone this weekend made him feel a bit lonely.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

It was Xiao Meng.

He pressed the button.

A moment later, the elevator doors opened—

A tall, thin, black-haired young man appeared before him, holding the hand of a little girl. Both of them were dirty, a stark contrast to the clean and bright room.

Huang Bo calmly led them to the bathroom to wash their faces.

After washing up, they sat on the living room sofa.

The little girl was a bit flustered in the unfamiliar environment, clutching a teddy bear and pressing tightly against Meng Hao’s arm.

“Is this Yuanyuan?” Huang Bo finally asked.

Meng Hao didn’t speak, tacitly agreeing.

Huang Bo didn’t ask how Meng Hao had gotten Yuanyuan out of the Mid-Levels Villa.

After they had rested for a while, Huang Bo didn’t bother with pleasantries. He stood up and said, “Her father is in the hospital. You should come with me. It’ll be inconvenient if the police come looking for you.”

Yuanyuan visibly brightened, her eyes wide.

“I won’t go.” Meng Hao handed Yuanyuan over to Huang Bo.

Huang Bo beckoned to Yuanyuan. She looked at him, then at Meng Hao, and finally chose him.

Meng Hao walked towards the door with a blank expression.

Just as he was about to leave, Huang Bo suddenly called out to him, came over, and stuffed a large bag full of beef jerky into his hands, earnestly instructing, “A child needs to study hard.”

He was already so old, yet he was still being called a child.

Meng Hao looked at the beef jerky in his hands but accepted it without a word.

***

Just as Ji Wei and Lu Shenxing were about to leave the hospital room, the door opened.

Huang Bo walked in, holding a little girl of about seven or eight. As soon as the girl saw the man on the bed, she struggled to get out of Huang Bo’s arms. “Daddy!”

“How did she get here?” Ji Wei was shocked.

“That kid Xiao Meng brought her over. This matter isn’t over yet.” Huang Bo took out his phone, dialed a number, and held it to Lin Yishan’s ear. “The police must be looking for her. Quickly report that she’s safe.”

Lin Yishan wanted to raise his hand to touch his daughter but lacked the strength. He could only nod, controlling his inner excitement.

Lin Yiqiu had reported the case three hours ago, and the police had already traced it to Yancheng.

If they hadn’t acted quickly, they would have found Meng Hao by now. Although the child’s family claimed it was a misunderstanding, the police still found it strange. Why go to such lengths just to have a child visit her father?

No matter how they looked at it, Meng Hao seemed to have ill intentions.

He had gone undercover as a construction worker named Fang Hao at the Mid-Levels Villa for nearly half a month, even putting a fake scar on his face, and had hidden the quiet child in a cement truck to smuggle her out of the villa.

It was a wonder he’d thought of it.

But since the family wasn’t pressing charges, they couldn’t say much.

Family matters were the hardest to resolve. It was best not to get involved.

“If you trust us, Yuanyuan can live with us,” Huang Bo said, seeing Lin Yishan’s anxiety.

Lin Yishan was still hesitating when Lu Shenxing said calmly, “Or we can send her back to the Mid-Levels Villa.”

Yuanyuan immediately gripped Lin Yishan’s hand in panic. Lin Yishan seemed to have made up his mind and nodded. “I believe you.”

After Huang Bo left with Yuanyuan, he dropped a bombshell.

It exploded like a clap of thunder.

“Lin Yiqiu was lying.”

Lin Yiqiu was the murderer.

He was merely a bystander.

—A cowardly bystander.

“The day my sister died, Lin Yiqiu was in the hospital with a hand injury from Ye Lang. No one would have suspected him of being the murderer. But I saw him tamper with my sister’s car.” Lin Yishan’s voice was trembling. “He didn’t panic when he saw me. He just smiled and asked, isn’t this better? With A-Jing gone, Father will like me more.”

“Were there any other witnesses?” Lu Shenxing frowned.

Lin Yishan was about to shake his head, but then he remembered the name in Fang Miao’s Notes and said uncertainly, “A person named Nie Jie in Yu City might know.”

Fang Miao had also been trying to see her before he died.

Lu Shenxing thoughtfully noted down the name.

Meanwhile, Ji Wei suddenly felt an inexplicable anger. He restrained his voice and questioned, “You just stood there and watched?”

“I… was only fifteen then.”

People always find excuses for themselves.

Lin Yishan was no different.

His expression became pained. “I regretted it too. I wanted to confess more than once. But the first time, my wife died. The second time, my son and daughter-in-law also died. Yuanyuan is the only child I have left. I can’t bear the cost of losing her.”

Ji Wei had read the file. Lin Yishan’s wife died of stomach cancer, and his son and daughter-in-law died in a plane crash. They seemed more like natural disasters and accidents.

It was hard to say if they had anything to do with Lin Yiqiu. It was more likely that Lin Yishan was unwilling to admit his own cowardice, and day by day, his fear of Lin Yiqiu grew, turning him into a ghost’s accomplice living in the shadows.

So in the video, he became the murderer, while the real murderer, Lin Yiqiu, cloaked himself as a bystander, calmly narrating the things he had done in a third-person tone.

***

It was already seven o’clock when they left the hospital. After getting in the car, Ji Wei sent a message to Meng Hao.

[Ji Wei] Thank you.

[Meng Hao] I was just entrusted by someone.

[Ji Wei] Still, thank you.

Lu Shenxing sat by the window, his long legs casually crossed. He stared at Ji Wei for a moment. “Chatting?”

Ji Wei nodded.

“With whom?” the man asked faintly.

“Meng Hao.” Fearing Lu Shenxing had forgotten who Meng Hao was, Ji Wei added, “He’s a student at my dad’s school, a high school senior this semester. I really have to thank him this time.”

“He should be thanked properly,” Lu Shenxing nodded slightly.

Just as Ji Wei thought the topic was over, the man said gently, “He’s a high school senior. You shouldn’t disturb his studies.”

Ji Wei nodded.

“So, don’t chat with him usually,” the man added.

He found the logic a bit strange but couldn’t find a reason to refute it. In the end, he slowly nodded again.

Although Meng Hao was short on money, he held his head high and would never accept money.

But he didn’t refuse tutoring.

Tutoring shouldn’t count as chatting, right?

He thought to himself silently.

The driver took him to the airport. The moment he stepped out of the car, he realized he was really about to part with Lu Shenxing.

Lu Shenxing saw him out of the car.

“Take care of yourself.” The man pulled him into an embrace and ruffled his hair. “I’m your partner. You have to let me know if something happens. This is very important.”

Ji Wei rested his head on Lu Shenxing’s chest, a deep reluctance welling up in his heart. He was too choked up to say anything else and just gave a muffled grunt of acknowledgment.

It was time to board.

Lu Shenxing let him go, then suddenly bent down, his gaze level with Ji Wei’s. “Take a good look at me.”

Ji Wei was a bit confused but still studied him closely. Lu Shenxing’s looks could be described as classically beautiful, with heroic features, a straight nose, and flawless facial features.

It was just that his aura was so overwhelming, exuding a coldness that made people overlook his appearance.

“I’m afraid you’ll forget your big brother,” the man said in a calm tone.

“I won’t,” Ji Wei quickly shook his head.

However, the reluctance of parting had been diluted quite a bit. He lowered his head and said, “You should get back in the car. It wouldn’t be good if reporters followed you.”

The man nodded lightly.

He steeled himself and said “goodbye,” then walked towards the show’s staff.

But when he was halfway there, a deep sense of reluctance suddenly flooded his heart, filling every corner of his body, as if it were about to burst from his chest.

So, he turned and ran back.

To his surprise, Lu Shenxing was still standing by the car, watching him.

Without thinking, Ji Wei ran back to the man, panting.

“What’s wrong?” the man asked gently, tidying his collar for him.

He looked up at Lu Shenxing and, without saying a word—

Kissed him.