Chapter 63: A Lesson from the Past

Chapter 63: A Lesson from the Past

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His phone vibrated three times in quick succession, causing a slight numbness in Ying Li's palm. He caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye – three pictures from Qi Xie. Assuming it was some mischief, he didn't bother opening them.

The plane landed well after midnight. Surprisingly, many fans were still at the airport. Amidst the crowd, a young girl managed, with great effort, to squeeze her way to Ying Li, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Big brother, may I have your autograph?"

Ying Li looked around to make sure she was addressing him. "Me?"

The girl sparkled with excitement. "Yes!"

Slightly taken aback, Ying Li then smiled warmly. "Of course, where would you like me to sign?"

"Can you sign here?" The girl handed him a postcard. It was a screenshot from one of his live broadcasts. He realized he had fans of his own.

Having signed it, Ying Li handed it back. "There you go."

The girl was so excited she nearly jumped on the spot. "Oh my god! I'm going to frame this!"

Ying Li chuckled, a bit embarrassed, and cautioned, "Watch your step and stay safe."

"Your handwriting is exquisite. Have you studied calligraphy?" Song Ji Mo subtly pulled Ying Li closer, ensuring they avoided an approaching surge in the crowd.

Ying Li glanced back at him and nodded. "My grandfather was a calligraphy teacher. I learned a bit from him when I was younger."

Song Ji Mo raised his hand to ruffle Ying Li's hair, whispering, "It's indeed you whom I adore."

The surrounding noise made it hard for Ying Li to hear. He looked at him quizzically, "Hmm?"

Song Ji Mo adjusted the face mask that had slid halfway off Ying Li's face, his voice gentle, "Let's go. Old Zhang said the car's here."

Ying Li replied, "You guys go ahead. I have something to handle."

Shen Yao asked, "Heading to the hospital?"

"Yes, just to check in." Despite his mother's daily assurances about Ying Tao's treatment progress, Ying Li still felt uneasy.

Without hesitation, Shen Yao offered, "I'll come with you. It's not safe for you to go alone at this hour."

Ying Li shook his head, "No need, I'll manage on my own."

His refusal was so firm that it took Shen Yao by surprise.

Song Ji Mo raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you don’t want our company? Your sister mentioned wanting to meet us last time."

Ying Li sighed, "It's late. She's probably asleep, and you've all had a long day. Get some rest."

"Alright." Shen Yao didn’t press further, though his voice held a hint of disappointment, "Call or text us if you need anything."

"Will do."

The Nancheng Airport wasn't far from the city hospital, so on their way back to Bi Shui Bay, they dropped Ying Li off there.

At the hospital, not wanting to disturb the patients, Ying Li quietly pushed open the door, only to find his mother still awake.

"Tao Tao had a coughing fit earlier," his mother said, draped in a robe and seated in a visitor's chair. "You just got off the plane? Why not rest?"

"I wanted to see how you both were," Ying Li replied, taking a seat beside her and gazing at the pale face of Ying Tao on the bed.

His mother lovingly touched his face, "My dear boy, you've lost weight. Are you exhausted? I've noticed you've been running events non-stop these days."

"I'm fine," Ying Li smiled, then added, "When are we moving the stuff from the old house?"

He recalled his mother mentioning they'd sold their old home, but he hadn't heard any updates about the move.

"I was meaning to discuss that with you," she began, "Dr. Qi's friend said there's no rush for us to move out. We'll talk about it once Ying Tao gets better. But there’s a peculiar coincidence." She paused, looking into his eyes, "That friend of Dr. Qi’s has the same last name, Qi. I forgot his full name."

Ying Li unconsciously furrowed his brows, deep in thought, "The Qi surname?"

His mother nodded, "Yes. Your father even joked with them, asking if they were from the same family."

That surname wasn't common, and Ying Li began to speculate. As he pondered, a flutter of anxiety gripped him. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Mom, where's the contract?"

"It's at home. But I have a photo of it on my phone. Why?"

Quickly, Ying Li responded, "Can I see it?"

His mother took out her phone, found the photo of the contract, and showed it to him.

Her phone was quite old, a model from several years back with low resolution. The screen had also suffered from wear and tear. Ying Li zoomed in on the signature, examining it closely.

The moment he recognized the name, his heart felt like it was being tightly squeezed by an unseen hand. A cold sweat formed on his back.

Qi Xie.

Their family's old home was in a less desirable area, and the house itself was small. It shouldn't have fetched more than 150,000. Ying Li had previously assumed that Dr. Qi might have helped increase the price covertly, but he hadn't expected Qi Xie to be the buyer.

His hand, clutching the phone, began to tremble slightly. His eyes fixed on that name, as though trying to burn a hole through the screen.

Thoughts swirled and tangled in his mind. It felt like a tightening net, constricting his heart, a torrent of indescribable emotions surged within.

Seeing his sudden pallor, his mother asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"

He guessed his sister, Ying Tao, hadn’t seen this contract. They probably hadn't even informed her about selling the house; otherwise, she would've told him.

Ying Li's mind seemed to have rusted. The gears wouldn't turn, making thought difficult.

It was almost amusing. Perhaps it was his pride, but after realizing Qi Xie had purchased their family house, the first thought that sprang to his mind was to repay Qi Xie. He didn't want to be in debt.

Yet reason told him he couldn't. Each of Ying Tao's chemotherapy sessions cost around 3,000, plus hospitalization and regular check-ups. Their daily expenses were high; every penny was vital to them.

After chatting for over ten minutes, Ying Li departed. He sat on a bench outside the hospital building for a while. The night air was chilly, but his thoughts remained fevered. A throbbing pain emanated from his temples, seemingly warning him not to dwell on it any longer.

After about half an hour, Ying Li finally left the hospital and pulled out his phone to hail a ride. An additional notification popped up on WeChat.

Intuitively, he had a premonition. The next moment, when he opened WeChat, his hunch was confirmed — four glaring red notifications.

Ying Li didn't click to read the message, but he could see that Qi Xie had sent a string of license plate numbers.

Street lights had gone off and the moon was veiled behind thick clouds, offering no luminescence. The roadside black sedan sat like a dormant beast, perfectly concealed in the darkness.

As Ying Li stepped out of the hospital entrance, the car's headlights abruptly lit up, illuminating the path ahead.

Ying Li checked the license plate, hesitated for a moment, then opened the rear door to sit inside.

The car glided smoothly on the main road. The interior was dark and silent, even the air felt still.

Ying Li hadn't wanted to get into this car, but he had countless questions. Yet, every time he saw that face, his heart began to race uncontrollably, as if his body malfunctioned in Qi Xie's presence.

Through the rearview mirror, Qi Xie saw Ying Li curled up, half his face buried into his backpack — seemingly vulnerable yet defensively prickly.

Ying Li met his gaze, and those elongated eyes fixated on him. The predatory intensity reminded Ying Li of a wild beast stalking its prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Feeling guilty, Ying Li shifted his gaze and murmured, "Focus on the road. Don't look at me..."

Qi Xie simply replied, "Red light."

Glancing out, Ying Li saw the red traffic signal. Looking back at Qi Xie, he found those piercing eyes still on him. Uneasily, he asked, "Does your leg still hurt?"

Qi Xie answered, "Yes."

Nodding, Ying Li mumbled, "Oh." Let it hurt then; there's nothing he could do.

As the car moved again and Qi Xie’s gaze finally shifted, Ying Li couldn't hold back any longer.

After what felt like an eternity of silent communication, he took a deep breath and asked, "Why did you buy our house without telling me?"

There was an accusatory tone in his voice, though he didn't understand why he felt the need to question Qi Xie this way. It felt like a confrontation, even if Qi Xie was only trying to help and had no obligation to inform him. Had Qi Xie come forth voluntarily, Ying Li would have been suspicious of ulterior motives.

Given past experiences, Ying Li was wary of accepting favors from him.

Suddenly, the car braked hard. Ying Li instinctively braced against the seat in front of him. Moments later, he saw the driver's door being flung open.

Within a span of a few seconds, before Ying Li could react, Qi Xie was pinned to the seat.

The car door slammed shut with a bang, shaking the entire vehicle. Ying Li reflexively retreated, but the backseat space was limited. Just as he moved, he was yanked back by his ankles.

His backpack was tossed to the front, hitting the windshield with a dull thud. Heart in his throat, Ying Li stared at Qi Xie, his face a mask of horror.

The carriage was shrouded in darkness, and while Yin Li couldn't see Qi Xie's face, he could feel him drawing close. It seemed strands of hair brushed against Yin Li's forehead, tickling him. Yet every time he tried to evade, his chin was firmly gripped and turned back toward Qi Xie.

He heard Qi Xie ask him, "What do you think?"

His voice was deep and raspy.

Lifting his gaze, Yin Li was taken aback by the intensity in Qi Xie's eyes, which sparkled brilliantly.

Qi Xie had Yin Li's limbs pinned down, immobilizing him. The air was thick with Qi Xie's scent. Overwhelmed by fear and oppression, Yin Li's voice trembled as he stammered, "I... I don't know."

"Do you know now?"

Qi Xie seized Yin Li's hand and slid it beneath his own clothing, pressing it upwards until the soft palm rested over his heart.

To Yin Li, it felt as though a vise clamped onto his wrist, causing a searing pain. The robust thud of Qi Xie's heartbeat resonated in his palm. The breath that fanned across his face felt hot enough to scorch him.

Tears welled up in Yin Li's eyes as he choked out, "Do you... want me to pay in flesh again?"

Author's note:

Keep it quiet~