Chapter 27: Determination

Chapter 27: Resolve

The Hospital.

The walls, a stark, bleached white, reflected the glaring winter sun. The air hung heavy with the cloying scent of disinfectant, stirring an almost visceral aversion.

Lin Shenshi burst from the taxi at the hospital entrance, sprinting inside. He stumbled at the main doors, catching himself just in time on the frame to regain his footing.

Gasping for breath, he ignored the acrid disinfectant assaulting his nostrils. His eyes darted frantically, finally landing on the room number that had been replaying in his mind. He made a beeline for it.

The ward door stood ajar. It was a shared room, but being a small hospital close to the school, patient numbers were low.

The room was largely empty, save for the innermost bed, occupied and shielded by a blue privacy curtain.

Lin Shenshi staggered over, his hand trembling as he drew back the curtain.

On the bed, a young man slept deeply, his slender frame sinking into the pristine white sheets. His cheeks, which had recently begun to fill out from regular meals, were noticeably hollowed again. His chest rose and fell with shallow, labored breaths, as if struggling to draw in the bare minimum oxygen for survival.

Sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, falling across the bed. The young man’s long, delicate eyelashes cast faint shadows over his dark eye sockets. His lips were pale, his complexion drawn and weary.

A sharp pang gripped Lin Shenshi’s heart.

Footsteps approached from behind.

Lin Shenshi turned.

“You’re finally here.” The class monitor approached, holding a doctor’s prescription. He glanced at the still-unconscious Yu Lanzhao before addressing Lin Shenshi. “He drank heavily last night and accidentally ingested cephalosporin. He nearly went into shock. Thankfully, he was found in time and brought here for gastric lavage. This is the medicine the doctor prescribed—make sure he takes it on time.”

Lin Shenshi took the prescription, his fingers trembling. “Ah Zhao… drank heavily last night?”

“You didn’t know?” The class monitor gave him a puzzled look. “After your argument yesterday, Yu Lanzhao was in a terrible mood all day. He didn’t even turn on the lights in the dorm last night. This morning, I got worried and went to check on him, only to find him collapsed on the floor with over a dozen empty liquor bottles scattered around.”

Yu Lanzhao had a low tolerance for alcohol. At a previous class gathering, the original host had only needed to ply him with a few drinks for him to become completely drunk and incoherent. Now, more than a dozen bottles… He must have been at rock bottom, trying to drown his sorrows with alcohol, utterly unrestrained.

Lin Shenshi bit his lip, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the prescription.

The class monitor continued, “He might have been looking for a hangover remedy and accidentally took cephalosporin in his confused state. Actually… Yu Lanzhao cares deeply about you. On the way to the hospital, even while unconscious, he kept mumbling your name. He also said…”

Lin Shenshi instinctively asked, “Said what?”

The class monitor sighed. “He said… ‘I’m sorry.’”

Lin Shenshi’s eyelashes trembled.

The class monitor patted his shoulder and quietly exited the room.

The ward was empty, leaving just the two of them. Lin Shenshi sat by the bed, his emotions a turbulent mix. Suddenly, he remembered something and pulled out his phone.

WeChat and call logs still displayed 99+ unread messages and missed calls. The messages he had previously avoided now glared at him, a painful, crimson reminder.

Lin Shenshi opened the message box.

[Ah Zhao]: I’m sorry.

[Ah Zhao]: I’m sorry.

[Ah Zhao]: I’m sorry.

[Ah Zhao]: I’m sorry.

[Ah Zhao]: I’m sorry.

………………

Apologies flooded the screen, far exceeding the visible limit. Lin Shenshi numbly scrolled from the bottom up, at first trying to count them silently, but soon there were too many to keep track.

He could almost picture it—in the dark, lonely depths of the night, Yu Lanzhao, with dark circles under his eyes, drinking bitter alcohol to numb his pain, while desperately yet humbly pleading for forgiveness.

In that cold, empty dorm room, the young man had clutched his phone like a lifeline.

But tragically… Lin Shenshi hadn’t opened any of these messages until daybreak, let alone replied.

The dull ache in his heart intensified, like a spiked mace digging into flesh, twisting viciously.

Lin Shenshi took a deep breath and turned his gaze to the person on the bed.

Yu Lanzhao was sleeping restlessly, his brows furrowed, eyes moving rapidly beneath closed lids as if trapped in a nightmare.

Lin Shenshi reflected carefully—in truth, Yu Lanzhao hadn’t done anything wrong.

Whether it was shooting magazine photos or acting in a film, he was simply pursuing paths any Performing Arts Academy student would eagerly embrace.

And he himself… with his self-appointed “god’s perspective,” had acted high-handedly, forcefully telling Yu Lanzhao not to do this or that. In Yu Lanzhao’s eyes, he must have seemed like the truly unreasonable one.

And this problem seemed almost insurmountable.

The “scum leads” were masters of disguise. Before they bared their fangs, who would believe that a refined university professor, a powerful business tycoon, and a wildly popular movie star would all simultaneously plot against a young man they’d never met?

Even if Lin Shenshi spoke out, no one would believe him.

The information gap made it impossible for them to understand each other; the chasm in perception was too wide to bridge.

Lin Shenshi sighed and tucked the blankets more securely around the person on the bed.

As if sensing his presence, Yu Lanzhao’s eyelids fluttered twice before slowly opening.

His dark eyes, like gleaming obsidian, held a faint melancholy. Like a fawn startled from rest in the forest, he looked around dazedly, his gaze gradually focusing as it settled on Lin Shenshi.

Surprise and disbelief colored his dark pupils. Yu Lanzhao half-propped himself up, reached out, and grasped Lin Shenshi’s wrist. The familiar warmth seeped into his palm, washing over him with joy, and he threw himself into Lin Shenshi’s arms.

“Xiao Shi!”

Yu Lanzhao was nearly crying with happiness, his slender arms holding Lin Shenshi tightly, as though if he loosened his grip even slightly, Lin Shenshi would vanish like a dream.

Lin Shenshi patted his back soothingly. “Ah Zhao, it’s me.”

The gentle voice eased the young man’s fears but also stirred boundless panic. The memory of their argument before parting was still fresh. Yu Lanzhao held him even tighter, his voice urgent. “Xiao Shi, I won’t take the sixth male lead role in *Long Moon Star River*. Please don’t be angry with me anymore, okay?”

His words were humble and pleading, placing himself in the dust, begging for even the faintest glimmer of light from the moon above.

Lin Shenshi’s heart ached, unable to bear it. “Ah Zhao, you don’t have to do this…”

“As long as Xiao Shi isn’t angry with me anymore, I’ll do anything.” Yu Lanzhao held him even tighter, burying his head in the crook of Lin Shenshi’s neck. His soft, fluffy hair brushed against Lin Shenshi’s ear, sending a tickling sensation.

The young man murmured softly, voicing the deepest desire in his heart:

“Xiao Shi, please don’t leave me again.”

Lin Shenshi closed his eyes, feeling the young man’s thin body trembling slightly against his own.

He sighed helplessly.

After just one night of leaving in anger, Yu Lanzhao had ended up in the hospital for gastric lavage. Lin Shenshi didn't dare imagine what even more terrible things might have happened if he had truly walked away without looking back.

Recently, Yu Lanzhao seemed to have become even more dependent on him.

His feelings were intense and pure, and Lin Shenshi couldn't bear to see him hurt, let alone let anything happen to him.

"I won't leave, never again."

Yu Lanzhao hooked his pinky finger around Lin Shenshi's. "Pinky swear, a hundred years no changes."

Lin Shenshi chuckled, interlocking their fingers and making a solemn vow. "Okay, pinky swear, a hundred years no changes."

"Xiao Shi, there's one more thing..." Yu Lanzhao buried his face in Lin Shenshi's neck, his voice muffled and somewhat hesitant. "Could you lend me some money...?"

"Borrow money?" Lin Shenshi was stunned. Although Yu Lanzhao was alone and penniless, he had never borrowed money from anyone before. Even when his wallet was empty, he would grit his teeth and tough it out.

Once, when he was short on living expenses and the next stipend was still five days away, Yu Lanzhao survived on dry bread and water to get through those difficult days.

It was hard to imagine what could have driven such a stubborn and proud boy to ask him for money.

Yu Lanzhao murmured in agreement. "Actually... it's about the contract."

Yesterday afternoon, the director of *Long Moon Star River* sent over the contract. At the time, Yu Lanzhao hadn't realized how seriously angry Lin Shenshi was. He cherished this opportunity and immediately signed and returned it.

But all commercial contracts come with breach penalties.

Yu Lanzhao slowly pulled back from Lin Shenshi's neck, hanging his head like a child who had done something wrong, not daring to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry, Xiao Shi, I was too impulsive."

Lin Shenshi patted his hand reassuringly. The most important thing now was to solve the problem. "How much is the penalty?"

Yu Lanzhao's lips quivered as he struggled to speak. "Five million."

Lin Shenshi frowned.

Five million...

For most families, five million was a huge sum. Many people spend their entire lives working hard just to save that much money, let alone Yu Lanzhao, who grew up in an orphanage.

Although Lin Shenshi had some savings, he only had just over 100,000 in his bank account. Even if he asked his family for more, he might only scrape together a few hundred thousand, which would be a drop in the bucket compared to the astronomical penalty.

And why would Lin's parents from the original book provide so much money to help their son's classmate?

"What's the director's number? I'll call and ask if it can be reduced." Since Yu Lanzhao was just an unknown student, replacing him wouldn't have much impact on the film production. The director might be lenient.

Yu Lanzhao shook his head. "It's no use. I already called the director last night. His attitude was firm—either act or pay the penalty."

Lin Shenshi's heart sank.

This was going to be difficult.

Yu Lanzhao guiltily clenched the hem of his clothes. Seeing Lin Shenshi's troubled expression, he shook his head understandingly. "It's okay, Xiao Shi. Even if I can't pay, I won't act in *Long Moon Star River*. Even if I become a delinquent debtor hounded by debt collectors, even if I get expelled from school, I'll keep my promise to you. I'll stick to it no matter what."

Sunlight fell on the boy's face as Yu Lanzhao looked up at him, his dark eyes glistening with tears, reflecting tiny points of light in the warm glow.

The boy pressed his lips tightly together, stubborn yet defiant against fate.

Lin Shenshi's heart trembled.

What did a 16-year-old boy know? If he became a delinquent debtor and was added to a credit blacklist, if he was expelled from school and lost his chance to enter the entertainment industry...

The boy would have nothing left, with little chance of recovery.

Lin Shenshi clenched his fist, as if making a firm decision.

"No, you can't break the contract."

Under the sunlight, Yu Lanzhao looked at him in surprise as he heard his own voice say:

"I'll go with you."

*

By the time they returned to the dormitory from the hospital, it was already past three in the afternoon.

Lin Shenshi helped Yu Lanzhao into bed, then cleaned up and threw away the scattered beer bottles in the dorm. After cleaning up, he felt slightly warm and took off his jacket, leaving on only a light-gray sweater.

Just as he was hanging his jacket on the hook behind the door, Yu Lanzhao's weak and puzzled voice came from behind him. "Xiao Shi, where's your scarf?"

Lin Shenshi looked down—his neck was bare.

That soft, light-beige wool scarf was a gift from Yu Lanzhao at the Ferris wheel restaurant, symbolizing their everlasting friendship. But now, it was gone.

Lin Shenshi thought carefully and suddenly realized that he must have left it at the hotel—and worse, at the same hotel where he had encountered Qi Lian.

Noticing his strange expression, Yu Lanzhao sat up on the bed. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Don't move around." Lin Shenshi hurried over to support him, suppressing the unease in his heart and managing a smile. "It's nothing. I left it at the hotel. I'll go get it in a bit." He could only hope Qi Lian had already left.

Not knowing what had happened the previous night, Yu Lanzhao nodded gently. "Then I'll go with you."

"No, you need to rest." Lin Shenshi remembered that Yu Lanzhao still hadn't taken his medicine. He brought over the medicine bag, carefully measured out the pills according to the instructions and placing them on the table, then poured a glass of warm water and handed it to him. "Here, take your medicine."

Yu Lanzhao frowned. "It's bitter..."

"You're not a child anymore. No acting spoiled." Lin Shenshi pretended to be annoyed, pushing the water glass closer. Reluctantly, Yu Lanzhao picked up the pills and swallowed them with a gulp of water.

As the sugar coating dissolved, a bitter taste spread across his tongue. Yu Lanzhao scrunched up his face, curling up pitifully under the covers, though his eyes were filled with clear happiness and contentment.

Lin Shenshi leaned over to tuck him in. "Get some sleep first. I'll be back soon."

Yu Lanzhao nodded obediently. The medicine made him drowsy, and he yawned, waving him off. But as he did, his eyes caught sight of something, and his expression suddenly changed.

"...Xiao Shi, did you meet anyone yesterday?"

Lin Shenshi, who was reaching for his jacket, hesitated briefly before quickly recovered. "No, why?" He put on his jacket, pretending to ask casually. "Why do you ask, Ah Zhao?"

With his back turned to the bed, Lin Shenshi couldn't see Yu Lanzhao's expression. Too guilty to turn around and meet his gaze, he only heard the boy answer softly after a moment of silence, "No reason, I was just asking."

Lin Shenshi sighed in relief, quickly opened the door, and slipped out. "Get some rest. I'll bring back dinner tonight."

Until the dormitory door closed, Lin Shenshi didn't look back at Yu Lanzhao. So he didn't see how those clear, bright eyes had, at some point, grown dark and unreadable, like stormy waves in the deep sea.

Yu Lanzhao shut his eyes tightly, his fingers clenching until they turned pale.

He was sure he hadn't mistaken it.

Although it had faded and was no longer obvious, what was revealed beneath the misaligned collar of Xiao Shi's sweater was undeniably—

A bite mark.