Chapter 34: If Line: If Xie Yu Travels Back Two Years Before the Story Begins

Chapter 34: Alternate Timeline - If Xie Yu Traveled Back to Two Years Before the Story Began

Xie Yu and Shen Ci walked side by side through many years. Xie Yu had spent five years studying abroad, traveled alone across five continents, and now he took Shen Ci with him to tour various countries, trying new foods and experiencing different cultures.

On a leisurely afternoon, Xie Yu lay on a rocking chair on an island, confessing to Shen Ci that he was from another world, here on a mission.

At that time, he was wearing beach shorts and floral sunglasses, a straw from a soda in his mouth, while Shen Ci sat beside him, applying sunscreen to his chest.

"Hmm," Shen Ci replied casually, continuing to apply the sunscreen.

The vacation sun had tanned Xie Yu a shade darker, but he was still handsome. The muscles under his hand were relaxed and soft to the touch.

Xie Yu turned over and grabbed his hand, looking suspiciously at him: "You're so calm? You don't think I've lost my mind again, do you?"

Shen Ci sighed slightly: "Although it sounds strange, I've long felt that you and he are not the same person."

A person's appearance and personality can change, but how can the essence of their character change? Underneath Xie Yu's laid-back and carefree exterior was a gentle soul. How could Shen Ci believe that he had once been arrogant, had once lashed out at innocent people, had once placed his happiness above the pain of others?

"Really?" Xie Yu raised an eyebrow, "You've felt this way for a long time? Since when exactly?"

Shen Ci paused, then quickly looked away.

Strangely, after being on vacation for so long, Xie Yu's skin had tanned to a wheat color, while Shen Ci remained as pale as ever, so that even a slight blush was clearly visible.

Xie Yu's eyebrows raised even higher.

Shen Ci, of course, was easy to tease. He had thin skin and blushed easily. Xie Yu also enjoyed teasing him with suggestive comments, but after so much teasing, he had gradually gotten used to it. Now, except during serious moments, it was rare to see him with that expression.

Xie Yu crossed his arms: "Tell me, since when exactly?"

Shen Ci: "...Are you sure you want to hear it?"

Xie Yu: "Of course I want to hear it."

Shen Ci sighed: "But I'm afraid you won't like what you hear."

Xie Yu: "How could I not like it... wait!"

He noticed Shen Ci's gaze slowly drop to Xie Yu's colorful beach shorts.

Xie Yu looked down.

"...?"

"!"

He sat up in disbelief, grabbing a towel to cover himself. "No way, really?"

"Hmm."

Because Xie Yu was moving around, the sunscreen slid down his chest, dripping onto the beach chair. Shen Ci pushed him back down and continued applying the sunscreen: "You know, Young Master Xie has a reputation. If he were in love, he should be very experienced, but..."

Shen Ci shook his head slightly, swallowing the rest of his words, looking hesitant.

Xie Yu: "???"

His face twisted rarely: "But what?"

Shen Ci sighed: "I said you'd get angry..."

Xie Yu clenched his fist: "Spit it out!"

Shen Ci drawled, "If I had to say, you're pretty green and clumsy, like it's your first time dating."

"..."

Seeing Xie Yu almost petrified, Shen Ci added, "Actually, it's not too bad."

Shen Ci has always been tough. Once, with a high fever of 39 degrees, he still claimed to be fine and wanted to get up for work, but Xie Yu forced him to stay home and sleep for a day. If he says it's somewhat comfortable, it really means it's not comfortable at all.

Seeing Xie Yu's face darken more and more, Shen Ci hesitated for a moment but still comforted him, "You're getting better fast."

Xie Yu, with a look of exasperation, said, "Teaching Assistant Shen, are you babying me? Should I say thanks?"

The conversation gradually veered from serious to a weird direction. After nightfall, they lay on the net bed of the water villa, staring at the stars, and decided to dig deeper into the day's issues.

Worn out, Xie Yu pulled Shen Ci into his arms and softly kissed his forehead.

*

The next day, close to noon, Xie Yu struggled to wake up, reaching out to the side only to find it empty.

"...?"

Ever since they started vacationing, Shen Ci had been waking up naturally with him every day. This was the first time Xie Yu couldn't find him.

...Where is my wife?

He opened his eyes, looked around, his sleepiness mostly gone, then suddenly sat up from the bed.

This wasn't their vacation bungalow.

A balcony, a suite, heavy mahogany furniture, huge floor-to-ceiling windows, and a round bathtub by the windows.

This was a suite in the Jiangcheng Hotel.

For a moment, Xie Yu thought it was a bad joke, but no matter how resourceful, it was impossible to whisk him across half the Pacific Ocean while he was asleep. Xie Yu checked his phone; it showed the date as nine years ago.

Two full years before the story began, when he and Shen Ci made their deal.

In other words, his wife didn't even know him yet.

Xie Yu muttered a curse, rolled out of bed, scrolled through his phone contacts from top to bottom and back, and finally picked Zhou Yang: "Hey, buddy, help me find someone."

From what he vaguely remembered, Zhou Yang's family had shares in A University, so tracking down a student shouldn't be hard.

At this point, Xie Yu, Zhou Yang, and He Zhiyuan were still tight; the three were inseparable. Soon enough, Xie Yu got a call.

Zhou Yang's voice came through: "The guy you're looking for, he picked up a part-time gig from the Student Affairs Office, probably handing out flyers on Star Avenue."

Handing out flyers?

Xie Yu instantly remembered a day after they confessed their feelings, Shen Ci mentioned he had handed out flyers in the summer, 15 yuan an hour, in a thick headgear, sweat soaking his shirt and hair, nearly fainting from heatstroke.

He looked out the window; it was the height of summer, the sun scorching, every piece of land baked under the intense sunlight.

Wearing a headgear in this weather, he couldn't imagine how uncomfortable it must be.

Xie Yu threw on his clothes, bolted out the door, while Zhou Yang's nonstop chatter kept coming: "Hey, hey, Xie Yu, why are you asking about him? I hear the sound of a car starting, what are you doing?"

Xie Yu: "Looking for my wife."

He quickly turned off his phone.

Young Master Xie wasn’t driving his usual low-key, luxurious Bentley this time, but a flashy, eye-catching champagne gold convertible sports car. Xie Yu didn’t have time to care. He stepped on the gas, sped onto the main road, and came to a sudden stop in front of Constellation Avenue before stepping out.

At the end of the street, Shen Ci clung weakly to the railing, his stomach cramping.

It was unbearable—utterly unbearable. Sweat dripped from his hair, his shirt clung damply to his skin, and Shen Ci didn’t even have the strength to take off the mascot head. He felt dizzy, his body trembling slightly, his gaze vacant through the mascot’s eyes, unsure where to focus.

It was unbearable... but if he stopped now, he wouldn’t get paid for the day.

15 yuan for 10 hours of work—that was more than a week’s worth of food money.

Shen Ci looked down at the thick stack of flyers in his hand, the top few damp with sweat, sticky and messy in his grip.

He thought dizzily, “I have to finish handing these out.”

Shen Ci stood up, gripping the railing. Pedestrians rushed past, but his movements were sluggish. Often, people had already walked by before he could hand them a flyer. His arm had been bumped countless times, and after half a day, the stack in his hand hadn’t shrunk much.

Shen Ci pursed his lips inside the mascot head, quietly clutching the edge of the suit. His gaze drifted into the distance, spotting someone approaching.

The person was tall, his features blurred to Shen Ci, but his silhouette was striking. He probably wasn’t hard to talk to and might take a flyer.

Shen Ci steadied himself with the mascot head and handed over a flyer: “Sir, hello…”

His voice was hoarse, almost grating and unsettling upon closer listening. Shen Ci pursed his lips, forcing a weak smile: “Sir, our new store is opening…”

Before he could finish, someone took all the flyers from his hand.

Shen Ci was stunned, about to object, but was grabbed by the shoulders and firmly pushed down onto a bench.

“…Sir?” he managed to say.

Xie Yu pulled off his mascot head.

The bear head was set beside the chair. Inside, his face was flushed, his eyes damp. Fresh air rushed in, and he took a few quick breaths, then with the last bit of his composure: “Sir, I’m working. Please give me back the headpiece.”

Xie Yu had never seen Shen Ci in such a state.

He was polite, a bit shy. At this time, his grandmother’s illness was serious but not hopeless, and Shen Ci hadn’t yet been worn down by life, still appearing vibrant.

Xie Yu said, “You’ve got heatstroke. You can’t keep working—it could be life-threatening.”

He pulled on the zipper of the bear suit: “Come out.”

Without giving Shen Ci a chance to refuse, Xie Yu pressed on the bear’s short, round tail and pulled the entire suit off.

The person inside was indeed soaked, his shirt crumpled and sticking to his body, revealing his pale skin.

Xie Yu forcibly pulled him out of the suit, holding him with one hand and the mascot suit with the other: “Let’s go, you need to go to the hospital.”

At this time, Xie Yu had been working out for a while, and Shen Ci was dizzy and disoriented. Xie Yu pulling him was no different from handling gym equipment, effortlessly and with strength to spare.

Xie Yu didn’t explain anything, and Shen Ci was forced to follow. His throat was so dry he couldn’t call for help, only thinking hazily: Am I being kidnapped?

But when Xie Yu flung open the car door, Shen Ci dismissed that thought.

The convertible sports car parked by the roadside was bold and flamboyant, its emblem a shape Shen Ci didn’t recognize. But just from the car’s sleek lines and striking color, Shen Ci could guess it was worth a fortune.

The owner of such a car didn’t need to kidnap him, as his family couldn’t afford even a hundredth of its value.

Shen Ci stumbled unsteadily, and he couldn't even climb into the car properly, so Xie Yu carried him to the passenger seat, buckled his seatbelt, and even handed him a bottle of water, cap already loosened.

Then Xie Yu started the engine, which roared loudly, and said, "I'll take you to the nearest hospital. You need an IV."

The soft leather seat beneath him had intricate patterns and a smooth texture. Shen Ci thought hazily: If he had the kind of money this car cost, could he afford the best medicine for his grandmother, hire the best doctors, and let her stay in a private ward so she wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night every night?

Xie Yu practically carried him into the hospital. The stranger didn't seem to mind that Shen Ci was drenched in sweat and helped him settle into a chair. Xie Yu took care of everything—registration, consultation, and picking up the medication. Soon after, Shen Ci was taken to the infusion area. Xie Yu didn't sit down beside him until the IV needle was securely in place.

Shen Ci was completely baffled. He didn't know the guy sitting next to him, but Xie Yu acted so familiar with him, as if they had lived together for many years. He hesitated slightly, his fingers twitching as if wanting to curl up: "You?"

Xie Yu, who had been reading the medication instructions, looked up and said, "Keep your hand still. You don't want the needle to slip."

"..."

His tone was natural and intimate, as if he was meant to be here, accompanying Shen Ci during his IV.

Shen Ci hesitated: "Sir, do we know each other?"

Xie Yu: "It's complicated. Let's just say we don't know each other right now."

The answer was ambiguous. Shen Ci's foggy mind struggled to process this. He was too out of it. Halfway through the IV, he drifted off to sleep.

When he woke up, he was leaning to one side, his head resting on Xie Yu's shoulder.

It was nine o'clock. For nearly four hours of the IV, this person had been sitting here.

The position of his shoulder being pressed was uncomfortable, and the blood couldn't circulate properly. His arm had to be numb after four hours.

Shen Ci lifted his unneedled arm and gently massaged it for him: "You?"

Xie Yu showed no discomfort. He put down his phone and looked at him calmly: "It's so late. Should I drive you back to campus? But it's a bit far. By the time we drive back, the dorm might be locked."

The undergraduate dormitory at A University locks at 10 p.m.

Before Shen Ci could hesitate, Xie Yu added: "You're in no shape to sit in a car for that long right now. You might vomit again. How about staying at a nearby hotel for the night and going back tomorrow morning?"

"..."

A stranger inviting him to stay at a hotel should have felt sketchy, but Xie Yu's gaze was gentle, without any hint of coercion or seduction, as if he was genuinely worried about the long journey and Shen Ci's discomfort.

"Oh, sorry," Xie Yu quickly added. "Don't worry, we'll get two rooms. I won't stay with you."

"..."

If someone else had said this, it wouldn't have been credible, like the old 'I'll just rub it' line. But whether it was luck, a moment of insanity, or his heatstroke-addled brain, Shen Ci hesitated slightly and actually nodded.

And Xie Yu really booked two rooms.

He handed Shen Ci the keycard and went into his own room without looking back. He didn't come out all night, let alone approach Shen Ci. It wasn't until breakfast time that he knocked on Shen Ci's door.

When Shen Ci opened the door, Xie Yu was standing there, dressed in pure white casual clothes, his hair casually tied back. The sunlight from the glass window behind him cast a golden silhouette, his figure tall and straight, his appearance extremely handsome.

The forums had never mentioned that the Xie family's supposedly ruthless young master was this good-looking.

Shen Ci was slightly stunned for two seconds, then politely greeted: "Mr. Xie."

Xie Yu paused and smiled: "You found out who I am."

Shen Ci wasn't a fool. Although he had been acting foolishly yesterday due to his physical condition, he had later come to his senses and kept an eye out.

The ostentatious car and consecutive license plate of Young Master Xie are one-of-a-kind in the entire Jiangcheng.

Although Shen Ci isn't part of their social circle, he has seen plenty of gossip on forums about how cruel Young Master Xie is, having sent many people to the hospital, even with pictures as evidence, such as a bloodied back of a certain internet celebrity, undeniable proof.

Yet Shen Ci couldn't reconcile the legendary figure with the young man from yesterday. Despite their brief interaction, Xie Yu was patient, meticulous, and extremely gentle, nothing like the rumors suggested.

He began to wonder if the rumors were wrong or if he had misread him.

Knowing Xie Yu's identity, Shen Ci couldn't help but feel on edge. The Xie family is a major pharmaceutical giant in the region, holding many resources, possibly even those that could save his grandmother. Such a person, Shen Ci couldn't afford to offend.

He followed Xie Yu nervously during breakfast, and Xie Yu drove him back to school. They chatted casually, with Xie Yu doing most of the talking and Shen Ci chiming in occasionally, making it seem like they were old friends catching up. Xie Yu never mentioned any compensation.

Shen Ci thought: If Xie Yu was just a kind stranger, how could he repay the care from yesterday?

But just as he was about to get out of the car, Xie Yu held him back and handed him a contract.

Young Master Xie scratched his nose and said, "Take a look first, the terms are negotiable."

Shen Ci understood.

He knew he had nothing of value except his appearance, nothing that would catch Young Master Xie's eye, let alone deserving his meticulous care and kindness. Yet, when the contract was handed to him, Shen Ci still felt a bit sad.

The kindness from yesterday indeed had another purpose; the gentle and kind young man was just a facade.

Seeing the unease in Shen Ci's eyes, Xie Yu gave a reassuring smile and gestured, "Call me when you've made up your mind."

He thought Shen Ci would hesitate for a couple of days, but that same night, he received a call.

Shen Ci's voice on the phone was tense, a bit confused and uncertain, he asked uneasily, "Mr. Xie, I've looked over the contract, but..."

Xie Yu laughed lightly, "Not satisfied? We can change it."

His tone was quite indulgent.

"No, no!" The volume on the phone spiked, then dropped again. Shen Ci, clutching the phone, seemed to be hiding from someone, he whispered, "I see my rights, but what are my obligations?"

In a contract, both parties are expected to have rights and obligations. Originally, Shen Ci thought Young Master Xie would provide money and medical resources, and he would offer his body, agreeing to some non-lethal antics. But this contract wasn't like that. Xie Yu didn't ask for anything, not for Shen Ci to engage in any intimate acts, nor to offer anything else, yet he promised to pay a huge sum, enough for his grandmother to get better medical care and for Shen Ci to finish university comfortably.

It was a contract with only rights and no defined responsibilities.

It seemed like a stroke of luck.

Hearing the noise on the other end, Xie Yu could imagine the shy Teaching Assistant Shen stealthily hiding in a corner of the school, nervously and shamefully probing the conditions he offered. Just thinking about it made him feel good.

"There's no other obligation, just one."

Xie Yu's voice on the phone was relaxed and unhurried. Shen Ci held his breath, hearing the other say slowly, "First, eat well. Second, sleep well. Third, well, focus on your studies."

"..."

What kind of requirement is that? You won't find anything like this in all of Jiangcheng.

Shen Ci was taken aback, hesitantly asking, "...Mr. Xie?"

"Oh right, there's one last thing."

For some reason, hearing this, Shen Ci actually felt relieved, a strange feeling of "he finally has something to do, not just living off someone else's generosity."

Shen Ci stood up straight, steadying his phone, "Mr. Xie, I'm listening, please go on."

Xie Yu's slightly stern voice came through the receiver, "Lastly, no overtime part-time jobs, no handing out flyers on summer streets, no wearing headgear, and definitely no heatstroke landing you in the hospital, understand?!"

Shen Ci's hand holding the phone trembled, his heart pounding uncontrollably in his chest.