In the overwhelmingly awkward atmosphere, the Light Goddess Butterfly flitted about, blissfully unaware, leaving trails of light in its wake.
Amidst the shimmering rain of light, Ji Mian calmly announced, “I’m tired.”
Chu Shiye: “Mm.”
Taking the cue, Chu Shiye quickly released Ji Mian’s hand, pretending nothing had happened. He busied himself tucking the blanket around Ji Mian as the latter lay down.
Ji Mian was indeed exhausted. His overtaxed mental energy left him needing rest.
With his ink-black hair splayed on the soft pillow, Ji Mian tilted his head. “I’m going to sleep.”
“I’ll stay here with you,” Chu Shiye replied.
“That sounds like something you’d say to a child,” Ji Mian teased, amused.
Chu Shiye’s face betrayed no emotion as he added seriously, “Go to sleep. When you wake up, the bad guys will be gone.”
Ji Mian laughed softly.
“Goodnight,” he said, “Goodnight, little one.”
Sunlight poured through the window. The Light Goddess Butterfly landed on the windowsill, its glowing antennae gently swaying, as if growing drowsy itself.
Chu Shiye and the butterfly exchanged a glance.
A moment later, he reached out.
The butterfly darted away instantly, blending into Ji Mian’s fingertip before vanishing.
The hospital room fell into silence. Chu Shiye fixed his unwavering gaze on Ji Mian, thinking back to the abyss he had just emerged from.
In that cold, lightless place, even the strongest willpower would erode over time, swallowed by unrelenting darkness. But in the end, he hadn’t remained in that abyss. He had waited, and he had found a light.
That one, singular light… now lay beside him.
His salvation—and perhaps more.
Chu Shiye’s hand reached out, paused, and hesitated. Slowly, he withdrew it.
He didn’t want to wake Ji Mian.
Just watching was enough.
—
When Ji Mian woke, his world remained a dull haze of indistinct shadows.
Because he was temporarily blind, his hearing had become particularly sharp.
Next to him, he heard soft, shallow breathing. Chu Shiye must have fallen asleep by the bedside. It seemed as if they were quite close to each other.
Ji Mian’s fingers twitched slightly, brushing against Chu Shiye’s arm. He gave it a small, playful poke.
No response.
Quietly, Ji Mian sat up, reaching upward until his fingers touched Chu Shiye’s face, resting over his brow.
Through their connection, Ji Mian’s mental energy ventured into Chu Shiye’s mindscape… but soon, he withdrew.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, dampening his dark lashes. Strands of hair stuck to his pale skin as he leaned back against the pillow, his eyes closed to rest.
This time, he hadn’t encountered those golden vertical pupils in Chu Shiye’s mindscape.
Perhaps their connection hadn’t gone deep enough. Unfortunately, his mental energy hadn’t fully recovered, so he couldn’t conduct a proper session for Chu Shiye.
Suppressing a cough with his hand, Ji Mian fumbled along the bedside table until he found the glass of water Chu Shiye had prepared.
He sipped it slowly, hearing the sound of the hospital door creak open as someone entered.
“Hey, Mr. Su, you’re awake.”
It was Kane. Noticing Chu Shiye sleeping at Ji Mian’s bedside, he lowered his voice, stepping softly as he set something down.
The fresh scent of fruit reached Ji Mian’s nose. He guessed Kane had brought a fruit basket. “Thank you,” Ji Mian said.
“No need to thank me, no need at all,” Kane replied. But after a moment’s hesitation, he added, “That said, there is one little thing…”
He rubbed his fingers together meaningfully, shooting Ji Mian a sly grin.
“I paid for the medical fees upfront. So, uh… when can you pay me back?”
Ji Mian asked directly, “How much?”
Kane: “Twenty thousand.”
Twenty thousand.
In his past life, Ji Mian would’ve regarded such a sum as pocket change, not worth blinking at.
Now, he considered the amount calmly and didn’t even flinch. “Sorry, I don’t have any money.”
Kane: “…Oh.”
“But,” Ji Mian added, “I believe I have something in your possession. Can I use that to settle the debt?”
He was referring to the ruby cufflinks he had previously entrusted to Chu Shiye for sale.
Kane scratched his chin. Chu Shiye had instructed him to keep the cufflinks safe for Ji Mian, but since Ji Mian himself had brought it up, there was no issue.
Besides, Kane thought with a smirk, Chu Shiye was clearly wrapped around Ji Mian’s finger anyway.
“Of course! If you’re ready to sell, Mr. Su…” Kane paused dramatically. “Actually, there’s been a very interested buyer lately. They’re willing to pay handsomely.”
He held up one finger. Seeing no reaction from Ji Mian, he hesitated, then added another.
Still no response.
*Kane*: Damn it! He’s not easy to fool!
Gritting his teeth, Kane reluctantly added a third finger. “Thirty-five thousand! That’s as high as I can go—really, I’ve gotta make a little profit, too!”
Thirty-five thousand. After repaying Kane’s medical fees and commission, Ji Mian would still have a significant amount left.
“Deal,” Ji Mian said. “Send the remaining funds to his account in a few days.”
Kane heaved a sigh of relief. He knew the “he” Ji Mian referred to was, of course, Chu Shiye.
Lucky bastard, Kane thought, sneaking a glance at the still-sleeping Alpha.
Thinking of the tidy profit he was about to pocket, Kane couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.
But then he caught himself, suppressing the sound—Mr. Su was right there, after all.
As soon as Chu Shiye stepped out of the hospital room, his communicator buzzed softly in his pocket, emitting a faint light. He pulled it out and glanced at the message.
It was from Kane.
[Kane]: “Hey, everything settled? Su’s okay, right? Let me know if there’s any more trouble.”
Chu Shiye’s gaze lingered on the screen for a moment before he typed a curt reply.
[Chu Shiye]: “He’s fine.”
His fingers hovered over the keyboard, as if wanting to add more, but ultimately, he just sent the short response.
Pocketing the communicator, Chu Shiye took a deep breath. Despite his earlier assurance to Ji Mian, the soreness in his limbs and the dull ache in his chest reminded him of the ordeal he had just endured. But these discomforts felt insignificant compared to what Ji Mian had gone through to save him.
He quickened his pace.
Inside the hospital room, Ji Mian sat quietly, his pale face relaxed but his unseeing eyes betraying the strain of his recovery.
He heard the faint click of the door closing, followed by the muffled sound of Chu Shiye’s footsteps fading into the hallway.
Ji Mian tilted his head, as though imagining the Alpha’s figure walking away. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
His fingers brushed over the blanket Chu Shiye had meticulously tucked in before leaving. The lingering warmth was a comforting reminder of the care that had been shown to him.
Chu Shiye returned quicker than expected, holding a thermal container of freshly prepared food. He paused briefly outside the door, adjusting his expression to appear as calm and composed as usual, before quietly stepping inside.
Ji Mian turned his head slightly, sensing the movement. “You’re back already?”
“Mm.” Chu Shiye placed the container on the small bedside table, opened it carefully, and began arranging the contents. The room was soon filled with the aroma of warm soup and freshly steamed rice.
Ji Mian teased lightly, “Did you run all the way there and back? I thought you’d take longer.”
“I said I’d be quick.” Chu Shiye’s voice was steady, but the faint hint of embarrassment in his tone didn’t escape Ji Mian’s notice.
Ji Mian chuckled softly. “You’re very diligent, Mr. Landlord.”
Chu Shiye ignored the comment, instead focusing on scooping up a small spoonful of soup. “Here, try this.”
Ji Mian obediently opened his mouth, tasting the warm broth. It was simple but comforting, with a delicate blend of flavors that eased the chill lingering in his body. “It’s good,” he said genuinely.
“Eat more.” Chu Shiye continued to feed him, his movements careful and deliberate.
As Ji Mian ate, he couldn’t help but notice the quiet attentiveness in Chu Shiye’s actions. The Alpha’s usual stoicism seemed to soften around the edges, revealing a tenderness that was both unexpected and heartwarming.
When the meal was finished, Chu Shiye began cleaning up, refusing to let Ji Mian lift a finger. Ji Mian leaned back against the pillow, his sightless gaze fixed in Chu Shiye’s direction, the faint smile on his lips never wavering.
“Thank you,” Ji Mian said softly, breaking the comfortable silence.
Chu Shiye paused, turning to look at him. “…For what?”
“For everything,” Ji Mian replied. “For taking care of me.”
Chu Shiye’s expression shifted slightly, a mixture of emotions flashing through his eyes. Finally, he responded with a simple, heartfelt statement: “You saved me first.”
The rest of the day passed peacefully. As night fell, the two settled into their usual routine. Ji Mian lay in bed, his breathing steady and even, while Chu Shiye sat nearby, keeping watch as he always did.
The Alpha’s dark eyes never strayed far from Ji Mian, his protective instincts quietly but steadfastly guarding the one who had become his light in the darkness.
Chu Shiye took out his communicator and glanced at it.
He stopped in his tracks.
Moments later, his brows slowly furrowed.
The hospital room, with only one person inside, was a bit boring, so Ji Mian released his spiritual entity.
The Light Goddess Butterfly flew in a circle before landing on Ji Mian’s blanket, slightly raising its antennae, as if communicating with him.
Ji Mian: “Don’t worry, I’ve been doing well these past few years.”
“……”
Ji Mian: “Him? He’s a really good person.”
“……”
Ji Mian: “Of course not, don’t overthink it.”
“……”
Ji Mian: “… You’re really overthinking this.”
The Light Goddess Butterfly continued to chirp and chatter, but Ji Mian pulled the blanket over it, covering the small butterfly.
The door to the hospital room opened, and Ji Mian caught the aroma of food.
It smelled like maple-glazed ribs and sweet-and-sour pork.
He silently thought about it and heard Chu Shiye’s voice, “Time to eat.”
Chu Shiye pulled down the small table attached to the hospital bed and placed dish after dish of food Ji Mian liked.
Ji Mian: “You still haven’t told me what happened to you in the mine.”
Chu Shiye lowered his head. “I fell.”
Ji Mian: “Hmm?”
“I fell inside,” Chu Shiye said. “Fell from a very high place.”
Ji Mian: “…And then?”
Chu Shiye: “Then I woke up, struggled to the entrance of the cave, and passed out again.”
Ji Mian raised his eyebrows slightly. “If it was just that, why did your mental power go into overdrive?”
Chu Shiye’s voice was devoid of any emotion. “The mine was very dark, and I got scared.”
Ji Mian: “……”
Do you hear yourself talking?
Ji Mian turned his head.
Sometimes, Chu Shiye’s emotions were easy to read; Ji Mian could figure them out with just one look.
But now, he was blind.
This Alpha sitting next to him was like a sealed rock—cold, rigid, and utterly impenetrable.
He even told blatant lies and tried to deceive him.
Chu Shiye picked up a piece of rib and waved it in front of Ji Mian.
Ji Mian turned his face away and didn’t look back.
Chu Shiye: “Su Lan?”
Ji Mian remained motionless.
Chu Shiye fell silent.
It seemed like he didn’t want to talk to him.
Chu Shiye lightly tugged at Ji Mian’s sleeve and gave it a small shake.
Ji Mian remained unresponsive.
Chu Shiye stayed silent again.
After two seconds, Chu Shiye softly said, “Brother, time to eat.”
Ji Mian paused, then slowly turned his face toward him.
Chu Shiye’s eyes lit up.
Ji Mian quickly turned away again.
I’ll acknowledge you, but only for a moment.
Chu Shiye: “……”
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