Chapter 136: The Bridge-Burning Little Menace Attacker Reborn

Chapter 136: The Little Troublemaker Who Burns Bridges (Top) Reborn

This was truly embarrassing.

Qiu Zhijian himself couldn't quite explain why, upon seeing Yang Chi approach, he felt an uncontrollable urge to cry.

Was it because, in that fleeting moment, Yang Chi’s hurried figure vaguely overlapped with the scene he witnessed before his death in his previous life?

Or was it because this unexpected incident, which had never occurred in his past life, had genuinely frightened him? Or perhaps… it was simply the long-awaited sight of a younger Yang Chi, and the gentle, comforting tone of his voice?

He couldn't pinpoint the reason, but the tears just came.

This time, Qiu Zhijian’s crying was far more genuine than the performative wailing of his previous life. He cried until his eyes were swollen and his voice hoarse, yet the overwhelming tears continued to flow.

By then, he had long passed the peak of his hunger—from the initial mouth-watering anticipation to the wrenching stomach cramps. Eventually, he no longer felt hunger at all, only a profound weakness in his limbs. After crying for such a long time, it was inevitable that he fainted.

Before losing consciousness, Qiu Zhijian felt his vision flicker like an old television losing signal: first, all colors vanished, then the screen filled with dense, snowy static.

"I think I’m going to faint."

Just before completely losing awareness, Qiu Zhijian managed to warn Yang Chi. He hoped this would prevent Yang Chi from looking at him as if he were already dead.

Yet, he still seemed to catch the sound of Yang Chi’s panicked voice.

*

In his previous life, Qiu Zhijian’s journey to find Yang Chi was fraught with caution but blessed with luck, sparing him from encountering the middle-aged woman he met in this life. Despite the numerous bumps along the way, he eventually succeeded in locating Yang Chi’s apartment complex using the address he had.

The only unforeseen event was that, as Qiu Zhijian neared Huating, a passing car splashed him with dirty water. He ended up smelling foul and looking grimy, like a street urchin.

Consequently, the community’s security guard refused him entry, leaving Qiu Zhijian no choice but to squat by a flower bed outside, waiting for Yang Chi to finish work.

At that time, Yang Chi’s factory was exceptionally busy, operating from dawn till dusk. It wasn't until evening that Yang Chi finally returned home.

When he spotted the "little beggar" squatting by the flower bed, he was so taken aback he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. He had to look several times before finally confirming it was indeed Qiu Zhijian.

The child was scrawny, clutching a large backpack, his face smudged with black and grey, his lips chapped and cracked. His large, dark eyes, like black grapes, gazed up at him piteously…

"Uncle Yang, I’m so hungry…"

If Yang Chi’s expression upon seeing Qiu Zhijian in his previous life was primarily one of shock and astonishment, this time, his emotions were dominated by… dread and alarm.

His hands trembled slightly as he held Qiu Zhijian, his eyes filled with profound guilt. He likely believed Qiu Zhijian’s sudden arrival was connected to his earlier remark about being too busy to spend time with him that summer.

Thus, he blamed himself, thinking that if he had shown the child more care, Qiu Zhijian wouldn’t have suddenly sought him out, nor would he have narrowly escaped such a perilous situation…

While this logic might sound far-fetched,

there was indeed a subtle connection.

*

Qiu Zhijian used to be a deeply insecure person. From childhood, he was treated as a jinx by those around him, and no one willingly approached him.

Even if someone unaware of his past tried to get close, others would immediately inform them of Qiu Zhijian’s birth and background. No one wanted to associate with a "troublemaker."

Seeking advantage and avoiding harm is human nature,

and this is simply the way of the world.

It was Yang Chi from his previous life who, little by little, encouraged him and praised him unstintingly. Despite never having raised a child, never having been an older brother, let alone a father, he clumsily learned how to nurture a child and instill confidence in him. —He had done more than enough, especially considering he owed Qiu Zhijian nothing.

When Qiu Zhijian noticed several unfamiliar men following the motorcycle he was on, a flurry of images—of being sold—flashed through his mind within a mere two or three seconds.

He truly believed he would never see Yang Chi again…

He ran incredibly fast, his heart pounding, terrified of being caught if he slowed down even for a second. He didn't dare look back once, and thankfully, he managed to escape…

Even after confirming he was out of danger, Qiu Zhijian could still feel the panic, fear, and suppression within his body. These were emotions he couldn't articulate to a stranger like the security guard…

It wasn't until he saw that familiar figure approaching that a flood of overwhelming emotions surged, impossible to hold back any longer…

*

Upon waking, Qiu Zhijian didn't immediately open his eyes. He continued to feign sleep, listening to the conversation between Yang Chi and another doctor by his bedside.

From their exchange, he learned that the direct cause of his fainting was hypoglycemia due to extreme hunger. Beyond that, his body exhibited numerous symptoms, including anemia, malnutrition, and gastrointestinal issues.

"Is he your brother?"

The unfamiliar voice likely belonged to the doctor.

"Yes."

That was Yang Chi’s reply, sounding somewhat subdued.

"He appears to have been in a state of chronic undernourishment for a long time. For his age, his height and weight are disproportionately low—he’s severely underweight."

After the faint scratching of a pen on paper, the doctor seemed to cap his pen.

"After you go home, you’ll need to pay closer attention to your brother’s health. He’s at a crucial stage of growth and needs the most nutrition. You must look after him carefully, otherwise, his immune system could weaken, and he might develop problems with his organs and tissues…"

The doctor’s tone was very serious, likely assuming Yang Chi was responsible for Qiu Zhijian’s condition, and urged him to be more attentive to his brother.

"Yes, yes, I’ll remember that." Yang Chi offered no explanations, simply agreeing repeatedly. "I’ll definitely keep an eye on him once we’re home…"

The doctor, likely having other commitments, left the room after giving Yang Chi some instructions.

With only Yang Chi left in the room, Qiu Zhijian, still feigning sleep on the hospital bed, wondered how he could naturally pretend to have just woken up.

He had no idea what Yang Chi was doing. After the doctor left, Yang Chi remained incredibly quiet, not uttering a sound.

If it weren't for the persistent gaze he could still feel, Qiu Zhijian would have almost believed Yang Chi had already left the room.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Qiu Zhijian cautiously cracked his eyes open slightly, finally catching a glimpse of the surroundings: Yang Chi hadn't left. He was still sitting by his bed, holding something.

Oh, it was the IV tube.

Qiu Zhijian tried to imagine Yang Chi’s thoughts. Did he believe that by warming the IV tube, the fluid entering his body would feel less cold?

It was a little amusing.

"Xiao Jian…"

Yang Chi suddenly spoke.

Qiu Zhijian thought Yang Chi had discovered he was awake. His heart lurched, and he nearly opened his eyes to confess, until he felt a warm touch on his forehead.

He could sense Yang Chi’s breath as Yang Chi gently kissed his forehead and tidied the stray hairs at his temples: "I’m sorry, I’ve neglected you during this time… I promise nothing like this will happen again…"

The man’s gaze slowly traced from the sharp line of the young boy’s jaw on the bed to his protruding collarbones, finally resting on his paper-thin body.

"You’re too thin. This won’t do. You need to eat more…"

*

What began as feigned sleep eventually turned into real slumber. When Qiu Zhijian next awoke, it was to the enticing aroma of food.

"Xiao Jian, you’re awake?"

His eyes met Yang Chi’s face, looking even younger than in his previous life. Seeing Qiu Zhijian awake, Yang Chi seemed to finally relax, his furrowed brows smoothing out, his eyes and brows alight with genuine joy.

"Are you hungry?"

He carefully helped Qiu Zhijian sit up, and once he was seated, quickly placed a soft pillow behind his back to make him more comfortable.

"I figured you’d be hungry when you woke up, so I bought some food," Yang Chi said, his voice as gentle as if coaxing a child. "The doctor said you shouldn’t eat anything too stimulating on your first day—nothing spicy, greasy, or raw. How about we start with some porridge?"

Qiu Zhijian glanced over and saw two bowls on the table. One was millet, pumpkin, and yam porridge—easy to digest and nutritious. The other was black chicken soup, its surface dotted with various medicinal herbs like cordyceps flowers, goji berries, and ginseng.

"Xiao Jian, let’s just eat these for now. Tomorrow or the day after, I’ll take you out to eat something else, okay?"

Yang Chi likely interpreted Qiu Zhijian’s unchanging expression as disinterest in the bland food, so he quickly promised they would have other meals once his stomach recovered.

"No, these are all very good."

Qiu Zhijian had never been a picky eater since childhood and would eat anything. Being so hungry, he naturally reached out for the bowl.

But just as his hand was halfway there, Yang Chi was quicker, picking up the bowl himself. The man, seemingly enjoying his role as caretaker, scooped a spoonful of steaming porridge and brought it to Qiu Zhijian’s lips…

It appeared he intended to feed him personally.

"No need, I can do it myself." With the self-awareness of a twenty-seven-year-old, he wasn't quite accustomed to being fed. He reached out to take the spoon. "Give it to me."

Yang Chi gave him a rather surprised look, as if he wanted to say something, but then swallowed his words.

After a two-second hesitation, Yang Chi’s gaze fell on the IV needle on Qiu Zhijian’s hand. "Let me do it. You still have an IV in your hand—don’t move around too much…"

Qiu Zhijian had almost forgotten about that.

Qiu Zhijian: "…Oh."

*

As he ate spoonfuls of porridge and soup fed by Yang Chi, the hunger in Qiu Zhijian’s stomach receded like a tide. The satisfaction of being full inexplicably lifted his spirits.

It was then that Yang Chi noticed the IV fluid was running low and rose to find a nurse to remove the needle quickly, to prevent blood backflow.

"Wait here for me, I’ll be right back…" Before leaving, he patiently reminded Qiu Zhijian.

Watching him leave, Qiu Zhijian suddenly remembered something else and instantly understood Yang Chi’s earlier hesitant expression.

It was because of what happened in the first two years of his previous life.

Back then, to solidify his bond with Yang Chi more quickly, Qiu Zhijian had spun many elaborate lies and often deliberately injured himself…

Once, when his hand was hurt, Yang Chi fed him a couple of mouthfuls of food with a spoon. Qiu Zhijian immediately became dramatic, feigning tears and acting profoundly touched, claiming he had never experienced such warmth before…

Looking back now, it all seemed rather contrived.

But Yang Chi… seemed to have believed it completely.

*

A short while later,

Yang Chi returned with a nurse.

Qiu Zhijian’s condition was merely low blood sugar, which an IV drip quickly remedied. His biggest issue was his poor physical foundation—deficient in various nutrients.

As the doctor put it, a day or two wouldn't suffice. The rest required slow recuperation and gradual replenishment; it couldn't be rushed.

Yang Chi completed the discharge procedures with Qiu Zhijian, holding his hand the entire time. Even while paying at the cashier, he would turn back to check if Qiu Zhijian was still sitting on the bench behind him.

He looked back to confirm almost every few moments—a behavior the Yang Chi from his previous life never showed.

Sitting on the bench, Qiu Zhijian pressed the cotton ball on the back of his hand as instructed by the doctor, while also keeping an eye on Yang Chi.

The hospital was large, and the weather that day was beautiful. Patients, family members, doctors, and nurses streamed in and out, with long lines at every payment counter.

Qiu Zhijian watched Yang Chi gradually move from the back to the front of the line, noticing how he frequently glanced back.

A minor incident occurred: when Yang Chi reached the middle of the line, a tall person blocked his view of the thin and small Qiu Zhijian. Yang Chi turned around, didn't see him, and panicked, almost instinctively trying to step out of line to check on him…

It wasn't until Qiu Zhijian raised his hand to signal his location that Yang Chi, still in line, finally relaxed.

*

"Tsk…"

Qiu Zhijian lowered his head and removed the cotton ball.

Long-term malnutrition had caused abnormal blood clotting in his body. Even from a simple IV drip, the bruise on his hand was more severe than most people's.

"It hasn't even been half an hour, keep pressing it…"

Having paid, Yang Chi squeezed through the crowd with the receipt, immediately spotting the almost purple bruise on Qiu Zhijian’s hand, and even more conspicuously, the beads of blood oozing from the needle hole.

In mere seconds, the man’s eyes overflowed with heartache. He gently reattached the tape and softly massaged Qiu Zhijian’s hand with his palm.

"Xiao Jian, let’s go get the medicine now, then I’ll drive you home, okay?" Yang Chi paused, as if worried he might misunderstand, and added, "Not back to Shumu County."

"Here, give me your backpack." He took the backpack Qiu Zhijian had been clutching all along and weighed it in his hand. "This is quite heavy. What’s inside?"

Without waiting for an answer, Yang Chi guessed, "Clothes? Books? Do kids these days have this much homework?"

Qiu Zhijian mumbled a vague response.

*

The payment counter required queuing,

and the pharmacy also had a long line.

By the time Yang Chi emerged from the hospital entrance—one hand carrying bags of medicine, the other holding Qiu Zhijian’s hand, and Qiu Zhijian’s large backpack slung over his shoulder—the streetlights were already glowing.

While still in the hospital, Yang Chi had received a few calls, likely work-related. Qiu Zhijian overheard him saying he wasn't in Huating.

"I’m at the hospital… No, not me. There’s a kid… Don’t worry about it. Yeah, I know. Okay. Wait till I get back."

He ended the call after a few brief words.

Qiu Zhijian looked up at Yang Chi and noticed the obvious redness in his eyes. He had been quite busy lately and probably hadn't been resting well. Now he had to come pick him up and run around for his sake…

After hanging up, Yang Chi tiredly rubbed his temples, but when he looked at Qiu Zhijian again, he was all smiles. "Are you bored waiting? Here, take my phone and play some games."

Qiu Zhijian shook his head.

Just then, the person in front of them in line left for some reason, making Yang Chi second. The doctor behind the counter urged the elderly man, who was a bit slow to react, "The receipt, the payment receipt…"

Elderly people naturally react slower, and the urging flustered the old man even more, causing the various examination and payment slips in his hands to scatter everywhere.

It was Qiu Zhijian who crouched down to pick them up one by one, and Yang Chi helped find the payment slip among them, allowing the old man to finally get his medicine.

Yang Chi had driven himself from Huating to Jiandu, but since the intersection where Qiu Zhijian was found was a no-parking zone, he had parked his car in a nearby lot.

*

Later, Qiu Zhijian cried and even fainted, creating a commotion for an entire day at the hospital. It wasn’t until 5:14 PM that the two of them, one big and one small, finally set off on the road back to Huating.

Qiu Zhijian sat properly in the passenger seat, waiting for Yang Chi to fasten his seatbelt before clutching his large black backpack tightly again.

Yang Chi started the car, steering with one hand, and slowly drove out of the parking lot. Once they reached the main road, he glanced at Qiu Zhijian. "What’s really in there anyway?"

Qiu Zhijian still didn’t answer, just held the backpack tightly and kept his gaze fixed outside the window, his eyes half-closed as if enjoying the breeze coming in.

He was… a little too quiet.

Yang Chi glanced at him a few more times out of the corner of his eye. The child in the passenger seat had his lips pressed tightly together, the warm orange streetlights flickering across his face.

For a moment, Yang Chi saw on his face a detachment unusual for his age.

*

"Xiao Jian," When they were about halfway there, Yang Chi suddenly asked him, "Are you still mad at me?"

Qiu Zhijian first shook his head, then realizing Yang Chi might not see it while driving, he spoke up. "No."

"Then why aren’t you talking to me…"

The toll booth was just ahead. Yang Chi gradually slowed down, stopped the car, and turned off the engine. As he handed the pass card to the attendant, he commented on how quiet Qiu Zhijian had become, mentioning how talkative he had been during their last meeting.

"You haven’t told me much about Shumu County either. Last time, you stopped talking after mentioning planting potatoes as a child and said you’d tell me more next time…"

Qiu Zhijian’s lips twitched slightly.

Back then, he was convinced that adults preferred well-behaved, talkative, optimistic, and cheerful children, so he made an effort to be chatty around Yang Chi. But in truth, he wasn’t naturally a talkative person.

"Actually… I…"

Qiu Zhijian wanted to explain a thing or two, but Yang Chi had already lost interest in the topic.

"Alright, if you don’t feel like talking, you don’t have to."

Yang Chi took the pass card back from the attendant, rolled up the window, started the car, and drove away from the toll booth. Before shifting gears, he reached over and ruffled Qiu Zhijian’s hair.

"Speaking of which, this is your first time coming to my place, right? It’s all been so rushed today—I haven’t even tidied up the room or bought you a welcome gift. How about tomorrow? I’ll take you out around town. Sound good?"

Although Yang Chi was a local of Huating, his accent showed no trace of the Huating dialect; it was very standard Mandarin. In his previous life, Qiu Zhijian had gradually adjusted his own somewhat rustic accent by following Yang Chi’s example.

Gazing at the gradually brightening streetlights outside, he hugged his backpack tighter. "Mm."

Yang Chi gave him another curious glance.

*

Yang Chi’s apartment complex—Qiu Zhijian had been there countless times in his previous life. As they drove near, he knew they were almost there.

He knew the route inside the complex so well he could’ve walked it blindfolded. Unaware of this, Yang Chi held his hand and patiently pointed out which direction to go.

"Remember it?"

Yang Chi pointed to Building 2, Unit 5 downstairs, telling him to remember the two distinctive large trees outside. After a moment’s thought, he still felt uneasy. "Never mind, I’ll write it down on a piece of paper for you later…"

Qiu Zhijian: "Okay."

He had long since memorized it.

Yang Chi’s apartment was on the third floor. The familiar hallway, the familiar steps—so familiar that from the first step, Qiu Zhijian counted them silently in his mind. By the time he reached zero, he was standing right at the door.

"Hey, how did you know it was this one…"

Yang Chi probably meant to emphasize which door it was, but seeing Qiu Zhijian had already found it, he chuckled and said he was clever to guess correctly.

Qiu Zhijian looked up at the 303 door number and said nothing.

"It’s fine, no need to change shoes, just come on in…" Yang Chi invited Qiu Zhijian to make himself at home, telling him not to be too reserved, as he went to get some water.

While Yang Chi was getting water, Qiu Zhijian finally opened the backpack he had been clutching tightly the whole way. One by one, he took out the items inside.

*

"Xiao Jian, I poured you some juice, you…"

When Yang Chi came out with a glass of orange juice, he saw Qiu Zhijian taking things out of his backpack.

The child looked serious as he pulled out one bag after another. Some were in black plastic bags, others in red ones, each looking quite heavy.

"What… is all this?"

Qiu Zhijian opened the largest bag—it was… chestnuts. Their freshness made it obvious they were picked from the mountains. It must have taken him ages to gather so many.

The second bag contained… potatoes?

The third bag was… peanuts.

Lastly, there was a smaller one, wrapped most carefully. He unwrapped layer after layer until finally revealing an exquisitely packaged gift box inside.

It was a sparkling crystal pendant. The crystal was a light pink and shaped like a heart.

"The chestnuts are ones I gathered from the mountains. I went to pick a few after school every day—I didn’t steal them. The peanuts and potatoes are ones I tried growing myself. It was my first time planting potatoes, so I only managed to get these few. And… I harvested quite a few peanuts, but I wasn’t sure if you’d like them, so I only brought a little…"

What exactly he had said at this moment in his previous life, Qiu Zhijian had mostly forgotten. He could only try to recall the gist of it. As for that small, meticulously wrapped box, it was the only thing he had actually spent money on.

The pendant wasn’t expensive, just a few dozen yuan.

But for Qiu Zhijian back then—a child with no income—it was something he had scrimped and saved for, bite by bite from his meal money.

"I don’t have much money, so I couldn’t buy anything nicer. This was all I could afford…"