Chapter 14

Chapter 14

"Bro, are you with that Si guy?" Jiang Yu burst into the room, his voice quick and urgent. The next second, he slid across the floor from the doorway, nearly tripping as he skidded to a halt in front of Lin Youhan.

Jiang Yu’s face was alight with excited gossip, making even Zhang Yuanhang, who followed behind him, appear remarkably composed.

Lin Youhan subtly rolled his eyes. "I think you two would make a perfect pair—one with an icy demeanor, the other with a gossipy one. A formidable alliance, invincible under the heavens."

Jiang Yu, having just regained his balance, thought it might have been better to just fall face-first into the ground.

"Bro, I don’t like men," Jiang Yu whispered.

Lin Youhan scoffed. "And you think I do?" Though, to be fair, Si Muyun did perfectly match his aesthetic preferences.

Jiang Yu sneaked a surreptitious glance at him. "But you do like—"

"Jiang Yu!" Lin Youhan cut him off, his expression unreadable. "Seems like you have plenty of free time, enough to meddle in my love life. Should I play matchmaker for you, one for one? You’re clearly just idle and bored out of your mind."

Jiang Yu immediately retorted, "Bro, who says I’m idle? The school just announced yesterday—the triennial Tech Conference has been moved up by a month!"

"What does the Tech Conference have to do with you?" Lin Youhan asked, puzzled.

He was well aware of his cousin’s capabilities. After a semester of study, Jiang Yu’s final exam scores had barely scraped a pass. Despite that, the boy remained remarkably optimistic—at least he didn’t have to retake any courses. Bring up any related algorithms, though, and he’d be utterly clueless, dizzy, nauseous, and miserable, finding comfort only when lying in bed.

Wait a while and check back, and you’d find the previously suffering individual fast asleep, looking perfectly content.

Hearing Lin Youhan’s doubt, Jiang Yu instantly grew defensive. "Cousin, just because I’m not participating doesn’t mean Zhang Yuanhang isn’t! He’s capable—how could he miss an opportunity like this?"

At that, Lin Youhan turned to Zhang Yuanhang, who had been silent all along. "You’re joining the Tech Conference?"

Zhang Yuanhang nodded. Although he was born and raised in Tangde City, a voice in his heart had always urged him to venture beyond. This voice seemed to have been with him since birth, growing especially strong after he entered the Star Institute—he wanted to go out, to see farther places.

"I remember the Tech Conference begins with school-level selections," Lin Youhan said. "Then the chosen ones represent their schools at the competition on Central Star. The selection period usually lasts three months—the first two for school-level eliminations, the last for selections among major tech institutes. Those who stand out and perform exceptionally well at the conference can work at the Technology Hall after graduation."

Jiang Yu stood blankly. "Bro, how do you know the rules of the Tech Conference better than me, a Star Institute student?"

"Isn’t this common knowledge?" Lin Youhan asked, puzzled. He didn’t think there was anything unusual about what he’d said; in fact, he considered it general knowledge that everyone should know. Thinking further, he added, "Jiang Yu, have you been skipping lectures?"

"I'm innocent, bro! My teacher didn’t explain it as detailed as you did. He only mentioned the conference would be held but didn’t specify the timing. The selection period differs every year—it depends on the specific circumstances."

Lin Youhan grew even more perplexed. Why was he so certain the selection period was three months?

The Tech Conference… the Tech Conference?

Had he participated in it before?

***

"Is the Tech Conference… that important?"

"It’s the dream of every student entering a tech institute! Who wouldn’t want to join?" Fearful that Lin Youhan might not grasp the significance of the conference for tech students, Jiang Yu’s tone turned exaggerated and eager. "Bro, how would you, an adult, understand the passion of us young people? Participating in the Tech Conference is like venturing into the Outer Realm! Not only that, top performers can even receive a pass to the Outer Realm signed by the Executive Officer himself!"

Hearing the term "pass," Lin Youhan’s expression stilled. His fingers unconsciously tapped against the blanket as his mind raced. He asked, "So if you participate in the Tech Conference and win first place, you get the pass?"

"Yes." Thinking he had gained approval, Jiang Yu nodded emphatically.

Lin Youhan smiled slightly. "When does your school’s selection start?"

"Bro, why do you ask?" Jiang Yu scratched his head in confusion but answered honestly. "The school will announce the competition format in a week. Probably the same as previous years—building mechas and testing their performance."

At that moment, Zhang Yuanhang, who had been standing quietly nearby, spoke up. "Dr. Lin, are you planning to participate?"

Before Lin Youhan could respond, Jiang Yu gasped in shock and cut in, "Bro, you’re joining too?! But you’re so old!"

Lin Youhan: "..."

What did he mean, "so old"?!

He was only 30—prime age for striving, the golden period of learning as some educational experts called it.

He replied with a mocking smile, "Jiang Yu, if your mouth doesn’t know how to speak, you can donate it."

"Your brother here has a 100% turn rate even at the hospital. How did I end up with a cousin like you who can’t appreciate my handsomeness? And what’s wrong with being 'so old'? My looks can make Si Muyun lose his bearings. Will anyone be chasing you when you reach my age? Hah, wh—what’s with the silence? No— holy crap, Si Muyun?!" Lin Youhan had been speaking animatedly when his gaze inadvertently drifted toward the doorway. His voice cracked on the last few words.

Si Muyun had arrived at some point, seemingly having just opened the door. Behind him was Wang Xiao, looking utterly defeated.

Perhaps noticing the sudden tension in the air, Jiang Yu muttered awkwardly, "Bro, it wasn’t on purpose. It’s just that your voice was a bit loud, and future brother-in-law— damn, my mouth was hijacked! I mean, uh, Captain Si… he knocked several times."

Lin Youhan’s face turned cold, and he fell silent.

Future brother-in-law, huh?

How wonderful.

Some people were already planning their own funerals while still alive.

Noticing Lin Youhan’s increasingly hostile glare, Jiang Yu felt a surge of dread. Sure enough, a pillow came flying at him the next second. If Lin Youhan weren’t a patient, it probably would’ve been a scalpel.

"Bro, I’m sorry!" Jiang Yu hid behind Zhang Yuanhang and yelled.

Lin Youhan sneered. "What exactly are you sorry for? You said it pretty quickly—if you wanted to say it, why make excuses for your mouth? How impressive. With skills like that, it’s a waste for you to be at the Star Institute. Should I ask your mom to send you to a matchmaking agency to sharpen your professional skills?! Try shouting nonsense again next time, I dare you."

Jiang Yu looked ready to cry as he loudly protested his innocence. "Bro, I won’t shout like that again!"

Just then, a voice chimed in, "You shouted very well. Keep it up next time."

Lin Youhan: "..."

Lin Youhan gritted his teeth in frustration. "What are you back for?"

The person in question remained unfazed by Lin Youhan’s expression. Calmly, he placed a meal box on the table, opened it unhurriedly, his actions natural yet carrying a strange, almost undetectable hint of indulgence.

"The doctor said your psychic energy was severely damaged. It’s best not to use it for a while."

Defiantly, Lin Youhan retorted, "What if I insist on using it?"

Si Muyun sighed as if resigned. "I don’t mind using my psychic energy again to—"

"Stop! Shut up! I won’t use psychic energy for the rest of my life!" Knowing exactly what he was about to say, Lin Youhan hurriedly cut him off, fuming internally and wishing he could glue Si Muyun’s mouth shut.

Jiang Yu cautiously peeked out from behind Zhang Yuanhang. "Bro, what did you two do with your psychic energy?"

"What would a kid like you understand?" Realizing he’d misspoken, Lin Youhan wanted to slap his own mouth. As expected, the moment he finished, Jiang Yu’s eyes darted back and forth between him and Si Muyun. After a few rounds, seeming to grasp something, he turtle-like retracted his head back behind Zhang Yuanhang.

Not long after, Zhang Yuanhang felt his clothes being tugged twice. He turned and heard Jiang Yu whisper, "My bro definitely likes that Si guy."

"?"

Jiang Yu reminded him with exasperation, "Psychic energy! Psychic energy!"

Zhang Yuanhang: "What's wrong with psychic energy?"

Jiang Yu grabbed him by the collar, pulling him closer, and glanced at Lin Youhan to make sure he wasn't paying attention to them before whispering quietly, "Psychic merging, sometimes it's equivalent to making love."

Zhang Yuanhang was still confused, "Making love?"

Jiang Yu was frustrated beyond belief; he'd hinted this much, how could Zhang Yuanhang still not understand!

Looking up and seeing those innocent, curious eyes, Jiang Yu's anger instantly subsided—it seemed he genuinely didn't get it.

What difference would it make to have one more person in the world who understood!

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Zhang Yuanhang asked him.

Jiang Yu sighed wearily, "Afraid of corrupting you."

"You haven't said anything, how am I supposed to know what it is?"

Jiang Yu pulled him even closer, "It's what couples—no, what married couples do, understand?"

Zhang Yuanhang shook his head.

Jiang Yu: "..."

If heaven gave him another chance, he would never choose to explain this to Zhang Yuanhang, of all people. Wasn't his meaning obvious enough? Had he never wondered where he came from after all these years? Someone save his filthy-minded brain!

"Do love, do love, you must understand that, right?" Jiang Yu said, utterly defeated.

Zhang Yuanhang hesitated, "Do… love?"

"You—" Jiang Yu was furious but helpless.

"Jiang Yu, what are you two talking about that requires being so close for so long?" Lin Youhan had long noticed their odd behavior, but curiosity drove him to see what they were up to. He didn't catch a word of their conversation, but the two were getting closer and closer, with Jiang Yu gradually reaching his breaking point.

Jiang Yu, caught up in his anger, didn't notice who was asking and snapped toward the voice, "We're obviously discussing—"

Before he could finish, he suddenly realized it was Lin Youhan speaking and quickly covered his mouth.

Lin Youhan looked baffled.

Seeing that Lin Youhan didn't press further, Jiang Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yuanhang, who couldn't read the room, automatically finished his sentence: "Do love?"

***

"Pfft—"

Lin Youhan went quiet for a beat and placed the water cup back on the table.

The air grew quiet; no one spoke.

Jiang Yu secretly wiped the sweat from his palms and apologized for what felt like the hundredth time that day, "Bro, I really messed up."

Lin Youhan was completely baffled, "What does discussing this have to do with me?"

Suddenly, he remembered Jiang Yu asking him earlier what he had done with psychic energy, and what his response had been—it's not for kids to understand.

Putting two and two together, everything suddenly made sense.

Lin Youhan didn't address Jiang Yu's remark. Instead, he turned to look at Si Muyun, who was lowering his head to wipe his uniform. Si Muyun's long, strong fingers held a thin tissue, and whether on purpose or not, his wiping motions slowed down after Lin Youhan turned, slowly and meticulously brushing away the water droplets on the clothes.

Perhaps the moment he turned, the distance was way too close. With just a slight tilt of his head, he could see a faint, barely noticeable small mole on Si Muyun's wrist bone. Its color was extremely light, yet impossibly captivating. The little mole swayed with Si Muyun's wiping motions, and Lin Youhan's gaze followed, moving from the cuff, collar, throat, thin lips... until suddenly meeting a pair of dark eyes. Lin Youhan instinctively swallowed.

Si Muyun also noticed him staring at the mole on his wrist bone. He lowered his eyes to look at the small mole and let out a knowing chuckle.

Lin Youhan suddenly felt thirsty and flustered. He picked up the water cup and took a large gulp, but after drinking, he still felt unsettled, his mind filled with that damn mole.

God, he wanted to bite it.

Lost in thought, he had already forgotten why he was looking at Si Muyun, and he didn't even realize he was holding the water cup, staring intently at that little mole.

Seeing that Lin Youhan wasn't coming after him, Jiang Yu quickly slipped out of the ward.

Noticing Jiang Yu had run off, Zhang Yuanhang felt it wasn't appropriate to stay in the ward alone and followed Jiang Yu out.

Catching sight of the two unwanted companions finally leaving out of the corner of his eye, Si Muyun asked, "You like it that much?"

He tapped the mole on his wrist bone with his finger.

"It's alright," Lin Youhan denied stubbornly, but his eyes remained fixed on the mole.

Hearing this answer, Si Muyun's expression darkened slightly, and he asked again seriously, "Really just alright?"

Sensing the change in Si Muyun's tone, Lin Youhan feigned casualness and took a sip of water, "Actually, it's not bad—"

Before he could finish, he saw a fair finger gently rub that little mole. Soon, the area around the mole flushed blush-red, faint, yet like lightning striking his mind, impossible to shake off.

Si Muyun asked him again, "What about now?"

"Still just alright?"

Lin Youhan didn't answer him directly but breathed, "Si Muyun, can I touch it?"

Worried Si Muyun might misunderstand his intentions, Lin Youhan added, "Just once, even a light touch is fine."

Si Muyun's throat moved, and he gave a low chuckle.

"Not just once. Touch it all you want."

He looked directly at Lin Youhan, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Lin Youhan, even after ten years, you still like the mole on my wrist bone."