Chapter 103: A Kiss

The man's kiss trembled with restrained passion.

Lu Ran was slightly startled.

He lifted his gaze to look at Ji Min.

Just as he tilted his head up, his eyes were covered by the man's large hand.

A cacophony of laughter and chatter surrounded them.

Familiar voices inquired about his well-being.

Yet, all he could see was a comforting and warm darkness, akin to the interior of Ji Min's always-darkened black business car.

Amidst this quiet yet noisy darkness.

Lu Ran felt a blazing breath brush against his cheek.

Then, a touch as gentle as petals or feathers landed on his still-trembling lips.

His nostrils filled with the potent yet warm, rich, and serene woody scent of the man's body.

Gradually, even the last trace of noise around them faded away.

Lu Ran buried his face in the rhythmic rise and fall of the man's chest.

The thin blanket shielded them from the surrounding light.

He nestled quietly, feeling the imaginary pain that had suddenly surged within him due to the car accident pulsating through his nerves.

The man's embrace remained tightly clasped around him.

Still basking in the reluctant reminiscence of this regained loss.

Until the sound of an ambulance echoed in the vicinity.

Lu Ran emerged from under the blanket, whispering, "I don't want to go to the hospital..."

A hand with well-defined bones rested on his head, gently pressing him back into the man's embrace.

"It's really not necessary, I just had a fall," Lu Ran persisted.

As he finished speaking, he felt Ji Min lower his head to kiss his hair.

Whispering into his ear, "But I'm worried sick, please."

Lu Ran fell silent instantly.

After a long while.

As Ji Min carried him onto the ambulance, Lu Ran softly asked, "Then you can't leave me alone at the hospital?"

"I won't," Ji Min assured him.

Ji Min kissed the tip of his ear again.

Arriving at the hospital, the familiar scent of antiseptic detergent mingled with the distinctive, indifferent atmosphere that permeated the premises enveloped him once more.

Unable to resist, Lu Ran closed his eyes.

After a hasty examination, he found himself lying on a bed in the emergency ward.

The youth curled himself into a tight ball, turning his head sideways, deliberately avoiding the sight of the hospital room's ceiling.

After a thorough examination and a careful review of the reports, the doctor said to Ji Min, "The patient has only minor abrasions and bruises. There's no internal bleeding or any more severe injuries."

Ji Min's apprehension had just begun to subside when he saw the doctor frown and continue, "However, during the physical exam, it was noticeable that he exhibits significant pain responses in his limbs."

Ji Min had also observed this earlier.

Lu Ran's muscles often tensed and trembled.

He also frequently massaged his joints.

But when Ji Min inquired, Lu Ran simply said it was nothing.

Upon learning this, the doctor commented, "We'll need to conduct more detailed examinations."

Upon hearing this, Ji Min furrowed his brows.

He glanced again at the person on the bed, shivering and curled up, and said,

"Today... forget it, let him sleep for now."

The doctor, having noticed something amiss with Lu Ran, instructed a nurse to administer a sedative.

Sleepiness soon washed over him.

Even his tense nerves began to relax.

Yet, under the influence of the calming medication, Lu Ran didn't dare to sleep.

It wasn't until Ji Min returned to his bedside and held his hand that Lu Ran felt at ease.

A wave of drowsiness washed over Lu Ran's mind.

His eyelids couldn't help but droop, yet he forced them open again.

He repeated this several times.

Ji Min reached out and gently covered his eyes. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

Lu Ran, in a haze, tried to grasp his hand.

But the man's hand was broad, and he could only hold onto three fingers.

"I'm not sleepy," Lu Ran said.

"Nonsense."

Feeling the gentle tickle of lashes fluttering against his palm, Ji Min whispered soothingly, "It's alright, go to sleep. I won't leave you alone in the hospital."

"Promise me you won't go anywhere while I'm asleep," Lu Ran requested.

"I promise," Ji Min assured him in a hushed tone.

By the time Butler Chen received the news and rushed to the hospital.

Upon pushing open the hospital room door, this was the scene that greeted me.

Ji Min sat in his wheelchair.

With arms enfolding the youth who should rightfully be resting in a hospital bed.

The palm of his hand gently patting the youth's back, soothing him into slumber with tender care.

Seeing Butler Chen enter, Ji Min made a gesture for silence.

He lowered his gaze to the child in his arms.

Only when he was certain that the person was sound asleep did he allow Manager Chen to enter.

"May I ask how it is?" Housekeeper Chen inquired softly.

"There's nothing serious about the car accident." Ji Min once again helped adjust the position of the youth in his arms, making him more comfortable to sleep.

He then added, "But it's uncertain if there are any other issues at the moment."

Housekeeper Chen nodded and reported the situation to Ji Min:

"There were police officers at the scene of the accident, but the news isn't good. The driver responsible has died. We'll have to wait for further notice from the police for the specifics."

"Dead? How convenient," Ji Min scoffed.

If a car had blindly rushed over, one could perhaps blame it on the driver running a red light.

Yet the car had clearly stopped at the red light before abruptly accelerating as Lu Ran approached.

How could it not be targeting Lu Ran?

"Look into it thoroughly," Ji Min said in a chilly tone.

Manager Chen nodded.

He went out to make the necessary arrangements.

"After returning, he added:"

"Outside, the Shen brothers are waiting, saying they wish to inquire about Young Master Lu Ran's well-being."

"Let them go," Ji Min said.

There was a hint of sternness in his tone.

Having said this, he feared disturbing the person in his arms and thus bent down to gently confirm that the youth had not been startled awake. Only then did he feel at ease.

Butler Chen wasn't surprised by Ji Min's reaction.

The car accident today was suspicious, and it was uncertain if it had any connection with the Shen family.

"But Young Master Gu Zhi is here as well," said Butler Chen. "After all, this incident happened right after he left the Gu residence. Old Master Gu even called to inquire."

"No visits," Ji Min said.

Butler Chen nodded and left. As he turned around, he heard Ji Min instruct, "Summon Kemler."

Butler Chen paused for a moment before acknowledging the request with understanding.

Gu Zhi and Shen Xingyu, along with Shen Xingzhuo, waited in the hospital corridor.

It was not the corridor outside Lu Ran's ward.

They hadn't even found out where Lu Ran lived.

Shen Xingyu paced back and forth in the hallway.

Shen Xingzhuo sat in his chair with his chin in his hand, silent.

Only Gu Zhi seemed relaxed, sitting with one leg crossed over the other.

"Why are you two so anxious? Didn't we say it was fine? Besides, Ji Min is there!"

"You make it sound easy," Shen Xingzhuo grumbled. "You weren't there."

He glanced at Shen Xingyu before whispering, "Even if he wasn't hit by a car, who knows if that fall might have caused some issues."

Hearing this, Shen Xingyu turned to look at him. "What do you mean? At least I'm not just standing by helplessly like you."

"Hey!" Shen Xingzhuo shot up from his seat.

Watching the two brothers' tension, Gu Zhi was dumbfounded.

He quickly got up to pull them apart, "This is a hospital! Don't start fighting here."

At that moment, Butler Chen approached them.

Smiling, he addressed the three, "Young Master Lu Ran is fine, he just needs further observation. You all can go back now."

Upon hearing this, Gu Zhi hurriedly said, "Can we see him if there's nothing wrong? My dad can't come, but he insisted on me taking a video of Xiao Ran for him."

But Butler Chen only apologized with a smile, "Thank you for Mr. Gu's concern."

Gu Zhi often interacted with Butler Chen and could tell from his demeanor that it was futile to insist today.

Shen Xingyu also frowned and checked the time on his phone.

Seeing this, Shen Xingzhuo said, "You must have work to attend to. I'll stay here and wait."

Butler Chen didn't bother if they were staying or leaving. After delivering the message, he turned and left.

Gu Zhi sank into the chair, muttering to himself,

"I'm doomed, even mentioning my father didn't work. It seems Ji Min holds a grudge indiscriminately."

"What do you mean by 'indiscriminate grudge'?" Shen Xingzhuo inquired.

"Well, anyone within a hundred-meter radius would be suspect," Gu Zhi explained.

Everyone present had complicated backgrounds.

They immediately understood what he meant.

When Manager Chen returned to the ward, he found Doctor Kemler already there, conversing with Ji Min.

Upon seeing Ji Min sleeping with Lu Ran in his arms, Doctor Kemler, out of professional instinct, advised, "It's not good for him to sleep like this."

"But if I put him on the bed, he'll wake up."

Unconsciously, Ji Min tightened his embrace, then gently relaxed his grip.

Observing his state, Doctor Kemler raised an eyebrow, inwardly musing whether this was a case of someone in bed unable to sleep.

Is it that the one holding onto another person is reluctant to let go?

"He's been administered a sedative. He won't wake up anytime soon. His body is in pain, and it's not good for you to hold him like this," Doctor Kemler explained.

Upon hearing this, Ji Min paused momentarily, turned around, and gently placed the youth back into the hospital bed. He then drew the thin blanket over the boy, tucking it in securely.

With the corner of the sheet covering Lu Ran's ears, Ji Min turned to Dr. Kemler and said,

"I've called you here to inform you that my surgery will be brought forward."

"Forward? Wasn't it scheduled for half a year later?" Dr. Kemler asked in surprise.

"Now is the perfect opportunity," Ji Min said, looking at the sleeping person in the bed.

Having just orchestrated a car accident, it was precisely during this intense investigation period.

At that moment, the person behind could only hold their tail between their legs.

If Ji Min waited any longer, he wouldn't dare to leave.

"Uh..."

Ji Min's sudden urgency caught Dr. Kemler off guard.

"This... This isn't something you can rush. Your health needs to be in optimal condition, and the recovery period for this surgery is long. Besides, you're aware of the risks involved. You'll need to sort out your work and other matters..."

Ji Min interrupted him, "Those are my affairs to handle. I'll make the arrangements. You just need to prepare for the surgery."

The man's words left no room for argument.

Dr. Kemler could only yield, "Alright then, when do you plan to schedule it? Within two months?"

Ji Min threw back a simple response, "As soon as possible."

With a furrowed brow, Dr. Kemler left.

Upon the arrival of Butler Chen, Ji Min made further arrangements.

Kemler was right; he had an entire company backing him, and there were numerous matters to arrange.

Moreover, at this point in time, Ji Min didn't wish to make his surgery public, which added more pressure to the situation.

Having arranged everything, Ji Min turned their gaze back to the person lying in the hospital bed.

He extended his finger, gently caressing the warm, sleeping cheek of the young boy.

This surgery comes with a certain probability of fatality.

He needed to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Lu Ran didn't sleep for long.

When he woke up, it was already dusk.

The sky had cleared up, and the sunset was breathtaking.

But when Lu Ran opened his eyes, what caught his attention wasn't the mesmerizing light.

Instead, it was the hospital ceiling and the lingering scent of disinfectant.

Staring blankly at the ceiling for a moment, Lu Ran was lost in thought.

Awakening from a hazy illusion of pain, he found himself gazing at the same unchanging ceiling as always.

His limbs felt weak and almost non-existent, as if they had melted away.

This scene was all too familiar to Lu Ran.

It was reminiscent of every time he'd woken up in his past life.

Until a familiar voice sounded from beside him, "You're awake?"

Lu Ran gently turned his neck and looked over.

Ji Min closed his laptop, setting it aside, then maneuvered his wheelchair closer to the bed, asking, "Does it still hurt? Are you experiencing any discomfort elsewhere?"

Lu Ran didn't respond, merely gazing at him in silence.

After a moment, he asked, "Where's Big Yellow?"

Ji Min reached out to touch his forehead, feeling a cold sweat on his skin.

The man's brow furrowed instantly. "Big Yellow is at home, under the care of Manager Chen. I'll call a doctor over."

Ji Min lifted his hand to press the bell, but Lu Ran reached out and grabbed his wrist.

The youth's fingers, clasping his wrist, were quite cool.

Silent, he gazed at Ji Min with his impossibly dark eyes, speaking volumes without uttering a word.

"What's the matter? Is it still hurting badly?"

Ji Min's worries resurfaced once more.

Lu Ran studied him for a considerable while.

His gaze was strikingly distant, reminiscent of the rainy night Ji Min first laid eyes on him.

The youth stood before the sports car, his gaze equally dark and cold.

He gazed at Ji Min just like that.

Suddenly, in a husky voice, he asked, "Ji Min, are you truly real?"

Ji Min was taken aback by the question.

Amidst concern, there was also a hint of mirth.

He reached back and gently rapped his hand against the youth's head, asking, "What nonsense are you thinking about?"

A familiar sensation washed over Lu Ran, causing the chill in his eyes to dissipate ever so slightly.

He reached out and clasped Ji Min's palm in his own.

The urgency couldn't be concealed in his voice as he asked, "But how can I know for sure that you're not just a figment of my imagination?"

The youth emerged from beneath the covers.

Without giving the man a chance to refuse, he climbed onto Ji Min's lap.

He leaned in, studying the man in front of him with great attentiveness.

Ask him, "Boss, did you just kiss me? Will you kiss me again?"

Ji Min instinctively reached out to embrace the person.

He also recalled his out-of-control actions and turned away, speaking softly.

"Stop joking around, I'll call the doctor over first. There will be more examinations later, and after that, we'll return home..."

The person in his embrace kissed him directly.

The youth's lips held a slight chill.

Kissing urgently, they breathed shallowly, nuzzling against his lips like little cats or dogs, applying gentle yet persistent pressure.

It was utterly unpredictable.

Yet, it caused Ji Min to instantly clench his fingers.