Chapter 115 Huo Zeshen [Complete]

Chapter 115: Huo Zeshen [Complete]

"Why isn't this baby crying? Pat him a little, see if that helps?"

"His mouth is open, why won't he cry?"

"All his vitals are normal. Let's send him to the neonatal observation room for monitoring first."

Huo Zeshen felt himself wrapped in a small shell. He wasn't clear about his surroundings, only knowing he couldn't see anything. His awareness came and went, and from time to time, he could hear whispers, seemingly saying how odd this child was.

He had no idea how much time had passed before he finally felt he could open his eyes a little. But his vision was still limited, and he didn't recognize any of the people before him.

Was he dead? Or was he dreaming?

Huo Zeshen had no idea he had gained a new life. Seeing his own tiny hands and feet, he wondered if he was in a dream. It wasn't until he pinched the back of his hand and felt pain that he began to truly accept the world he was in.

At three years old, Huo Zeshen was sent to kindergarten by his parents. They crouched down, looking at their son's blank expression with a mix of worry and anticipation. "Starting today, Xiao Shen will go to kindergarten! Mom and Dad know you don't like to talk much, so we specifically asked the teacher to keep an eye on you. If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, be sure to speak up right away. Don't keep it bottled up inside, okay?"

Before enrollment, Huo Zeshen's parents had taken him for an intelligence test. The child could be described as exceptionally gifted and mature beyond his years. Though only a few years old, his intellectual level far surpassed that of his peers. His usual silence was likely just because he didn't want to chat with silly kids.

If Huo Zeshen couldn't adapt after entering kindergarten, they would have to hire a private tutor for one-on-one teaching at home. Regardless, such a child, if properly guided, could become a pillar of society. If not guided well, he might, due to his lack of worldly experience and high self-regard, potentially embark on a path of crime.

Huo Zeshen simply couldn't connect with his kindergarten classmates.

Over these past few years, he had gradually come to terms with reality. The flow of time doesn't lie. This wasn't a dream; it was a reality Huo Zeshen could touch.

Perhaps he had already perished in that insidious trap. He'd never imagined he would die before Lin Juangui. He must have been devastated.

Never to see Lin Juangui again... Huo Zeshen felt a profound sense of loss.

Perhaps Heaven took pity on Huo Zeshen, granting him a caring family and an affluent life in this world without insectoids and warfare. But Huo Zeshen was utterly unaccustomed to all this and didn't know how to respond to this familial affection.

Huo Zeshen's parents didn't expect much from him. After all, this child was such an odd baby from the start. That he could grow up safely was already a rare and precious blessing.

In this warm, loving family environment, Huo Zeshen strove to adapt to his identity, even though on many nights he would still think of Lin Juangui, feeling profoundly alone.

If only Lin Juangui could suddenly appear before him... In this era, they would be free of the heavy burdens they once carried. They could hold hands and embrace openly, without a care, appearing before everyone.

Having undergone systematic learning and education, Huo Zeshen seemed to have made up for many things he'd missed out on in his past life. Although his parents only hoped Huo Zeshen would grow up well and stay out of trouble, Huo Zeshen still felt he needed to make some contribution to society so his life wouldn't feel wasted.

Lin Juangui had taught Huo Zeshen that a person should shoulder the responsibilities appropriate to their position.

Sloth and gluttony weren't Huo Zeshen's nature. In this era with many choices, Huo Zeshen tried things he had wanted to do but never accomplished before.

At fifteen, Huo Zeshen gained admission to the most prestigious medical school in the country. When he returned from studying abroad, he was in his early twenties. By then, he already had several research achievements and served as an Associate Chief Physician at a prestigious hospital in a major, bustling metropolis.

For Huo Zeshen, life here was too peaceful and beautiful, often giving him a sense of unreality.

He wasn't a person with particularly strong material desires. Remembering how Lin Juangui used to do charity work without thought of reward, Huo Zeshen also used his salary to help many ordinary people who couldn't afford medicine or medical treatment.

Time passed too quickly. Over the years, Huo Zeshen reflected on many things: about himself, about Lin Juangui, about why he had come here, and what hidden meanings lay in the words Lin Juangui had spoken to him before.

Huo Zeshen seemed to gradually understand the meaning of life. He began to actively face and accept everything around him, made many friends, frequently returned home to visit his parents, and politely declined any romantic interest, stating that he already had someone he liked.

Even though he didn't know where this person was now.

The Huo family was a large clan. As the child of the clan head's favorite youngest son, Huo Zeshen didn't need to shoulder the heavy burdens of the family. Thus, he was free to do whatever he wished.

Huo Zeshen remembered the year he first returned to the country. When he went to visit his grandfather, there happened to be a guest at home.

Seeing Huo Zeshen's impressive appearance, the guest smiled and sighed, "If my child hadn't been taken away back then, he'd surely be about Xiao Huo's age now."

Huo Zeshen offered a polite smile nearby, only hearing his grandfather say, "Although so many years have passed, finding someone is like searching for a needle in a haystack. But if fate allows, you can definitely meet again. Don't lose hope, Old Lin."

After speaking, Huo Zeshen's grandfather looked at him. "Zeshen, you'll be taking up a position at a hospital in S City soon, right? You can help look for him too."

Huo Zeshen looked at the elderly man surnamed Lin and asked what characteristics the person he was looking for had.

The old man sighed with difficulty. "When he was taken, he had just been born. We don't know what he looks like now. His parents were depressed and sorrowful over this for many years and passed away not long ago, one after the other. The whole family feels deep regret. No matter what, we won't give up the search."

Huo Zeshen fell silent for a moment. In truth, everyone knew that in such situations, it was generally impossible to find the person. After all, there were too few clues; no one knew what that child looked like now.

The only thing the old man could produce were photos of that child's parents and the name they had given him at the time. "His name is Lin Juangui."

"..." Huo Zeshen inhaled subtly, almost imperceptibly. He never expected to hear Lin Juangui's name in this world so abruptly and unpreparedly.

Huo Zeshen learned many details from the old man. This proactive attitude greatly comforted the elder, whose brow seemed less furrowed when he left.

Huo Zeshen's grandfather had been watching from the side the whole time, a meaningful smile always on his face.

He didn't ask Huo Zeshen why he became so agitated upon hearing Lin Juangui's name. On the surface, Huo Zeshen seemed polite to everyone, but in reality, his heart was distant and indifferent. There were very few things that truly concerned him. But this time seemed different; he cared deeply about that Lin Juangui.

Seeing his grandfather's expression, which seemed to understand everything, Huo Zeshen didn't explain anything. As usual, he asked his grandfather about his recent health.

"Very good! Seeing you so accomplished makes me even more at ease."

Back when Huo Zeshen was first born, not crying or fussing like a normal child, his parents were extremely worried. They wondered what wrong they had done in their lives to receive such an outcome.

window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: '6909b82653c30418d8ca4f40', id: 'pf-17365-1'})

Transitioning from a tense atmosphere to a relatively relaxed environment requires an adaptation process. Huo Zeshen would gradually integrate into this world, find his place, and face any problem more naturally.

Huo Zeshen's grandfather was a wise man. He didn't force anything. Even knowing Huo Zeshen had a high intellectual level and might bring considerable honor to the family in the future, he still didn't pressure Huo Zeshen to do what he thought was best.

"They say that whenever people meet, there might be a connection from a past life. I'm glad you've found something you're willing to be persistent about."

Whether it was studying abroad or searching for Lin Juangui, Huo Zeshen could make his own decisions, unaffected by others. This alone was something his grandfather greatly appreciated.

Huo Zeshen knew that being able to have his current life was inseparable from his grandfather's support. He was sincerely grateful for his grandfather's understanding. "Thank you."

Searching for Lin Juangui was no less difficult than finding a needle in a haystack. Huo Zeshen knew what Lin Juangui would look like. He specifically hired a painter skilled at portraits to create several images of what Lin Juangui might look like grown up, based on the appearances of Lin Juangui's parents.

After reviewing these paintings, Huo Zeshen selected the one that looked most similar and asked the painter to add many details. Only when the face in the painting resembled Lin Juangui by at least ninety percent did Huo Zeshen nod, indicating he wanted that one.

The painter bit his pen, feeling somewhat speechless, thinking that such a beautiful face only existed in dreams. He wondered if this employer was actually looking for someone or just wanted him to paint a dream lover.

Even with the painting completed, the search still encountered obstacles. Such a painting could only serve as a reference, not as direct evidence.

Huo Zeshen knew he couldn't rush. Many things could only await the right timing. But no matter what, he would not give up.

At twenty-nine, Huo Zeshen was on duty at the hospital as usual.

When he saw the person being carried in by a colleague, he almost failed to control the expression on his face.

It was Lin Juangui.

He was wearing a proper three-piece suit, his glasses hanging loosely on the bridge of his nose. His brow was slightly furrowed in pain, and his whole person appeared weak and pale.

After listening to Lin Juangui's colleague describe the symptoms, Huo Zeshen's expression turned rather unpleasant. Suppressing his emotions, he uttered "Preposterous," arranged examinations for Lin Juangui, and told Lin Juangui's colleague to go buy some soda water.

Lin Juangui didn't see Huo Zeshen's slightly trembling hand as Huo Zeshen fed him soda water.

Huo Zeshen would recognize this face even if it were reduced to ashes. He never expected Lin Juangui to be so close to him. Sometimes, the darkest place is under the lamp, and there's just nothing you can do about it.

For Huo Zeshen, more than the joy of reunion, he feared that something might happen to Lin Juangui's health again.

Fortunately, it was just chronic gastritis, caused by excessive coffee intake, round-the-clock work, and irregular meals.

While relieved, Huo Zeshen felt his heart was in turmoil. He was thinking about how to find an excuse to see Lin Juangui again. He wanted to know everything about Lin Juangui's past in this world; he didn't want to lose him again.

But Lin Juangui was still so popular, surrounded by all sorts of people, as if there was simply no place for Huo Zeshen.

That day, Huo Zeshen stood in the stairwell next to the corridor for a long time. He watched waves of attractive people bring gifts to Lin Juangui's hospital room, and then others came to take all those gifts away.

Huo Zeshen thought it over for a long time and felt he still needed to exercise restraint.

Having lived nearly thirty extra years, Huo Zeshen's temperament had been somewhat influenced by his environment. With increasing life experience, he discarded the mask he used to wear for everyone and began trying to accept himself, facing his feelings more honestly.

However, in front of Lin Juangui, he still hoped his entrance would be memorable, at least not to screw up.

Huo Zeshen went to a flower shop near the hospital and carefully selected a bouquet of jasmine. Pretending he had never met Lin Juangui, he appeared before him. Seeing the look of not recognizing him and the politeness in Lin Juangui's gaze, Huo Zeshen forced himself to stay calm, left a business card for Lin Juangui, and even found a plausible reason.

After all, stomach trouble was a chronic issue for someone like him. Workaholics like Lin Juangui tend to forget the pain once the wound heals. Huo Zeshen had already cast the bait, just waiting for a fish named Lin Juangui to take it.

During this time, Huo Zeshen was on edge. He looked forward to Lin Juangui seeking him out, yet he also hoped Lin Juangui wouldn't make himself sick again so quickly.

Or perhaps, Lin Juangui might not even remember someone like Huo Zeshen. Huo Zeshen was merely a passerby in his life.

Seeing Huo Zeshen in poor condition, the hospital director specifically talked to him. Huo Zeshen was very honest: "I might need some time off. I haven't been in good shape lately."

Working while unfit is irresponsible to oneself, colleagues, and patients. The director understood, but shifts still had to be covered. Huo Zeshen had students to mentor and couldn't just shirk his responsibilities no matter what. At most, he wouldn't be assigned surgeries.

"Alright, I accept."

Huo Zeshen meticulously digested every detail of Lin Juangui's experiences over the years with an almost obsessive attention to detail. He seemed to have arrived at a conclusion he had long suspected.

But he still needed to verify the specifics personally.

That day, just after Huo Zeshen had finished washing up and was about to go to sleep, he finally received Lin Juangui's call.

He hurried to Lin Juangui's side, not caring if his appearance was somewhat unkempt. He helped Lin Juangui press on acupressure points to relieve the stomach pain, only to receive a "good person card" from Lin Juangui in the end.

Hmm, Xiao Juan in this world was very guarded. That was good; it proved not just anyone could get close to him.

Huo Zeshen took Lin Juangui back to the hotel and then left. Returning home, he gently sniffed his fingertips, recalling the texture of touching Lin Juangui's skin—warm and soft.

Every time Huo Zeshen harbored improper desires for Lin Juangui, a sense of guilt would simultaneously surge within him.

He felt it was a kind of sacrilege, yet he couldn't help but recall the scenes of their past entanglement.

How to move forward left Huo Zeshen stumped.

But no matter what, Huo Zeshen wouldn't give up pursuing Lin Juangui.

Yes, pursuing.

Lin Juangui was finally not someone's partner, an Omega. He was now single, pouring all his passion into work. Huo Zeshen could openly court him; no one could say anything or stop him.

But before Huo Zeshen could take the next step, Lin Juangui came to the hospital to see him first, bringing a commendation banner and a bouquet of flowers made from ballpoint pens.

Lin Juangui's eyes were bright as he looked at Huo Zeshen, radiating an air of confident determination, as if he was absolutely certain he could win Huo Zeshen over.

Of course, Huo Zeshen was effortlessly won over by Lin Juangui.

Huo Zeshen began dressing in the style Lin Juangui used to like, earning him the nickname "peacock spreading its tail feathers" from his department colleagues.

"Who would have thought Professor Huo would be no different from ordinary people when in love? Wearing that coat, spraying that hair gel—tsk tsk, so showy."

Huo Zeshen was quite pleased with himself. He asked Lin Juangui if this counted as a peacock spreading its tail. Lin Juangui, of course, understood his implication and replied with a laugh in his voice, "Even if you're spreading your tail, you'd be the most beautiful peacock among them all."

"Do you like it?" Huo Zeshen had recently learned—just like the old Lin Juangui—to be straightforward and frank.

Since there were feelings, why suppress them? Huo Zeshen had already been restraining himself a lot. He was afraid his affection might scare Lin Juangui, but he also hoped Lin Juangui could sense his attitude.

Lin Juangui was indeed taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "Of course I like it. A peacock that only spreads its tail for me—who wouldn't like that?"

Compared to Huo Zeshen, Lin Juangui was actually less restrained.

Although he could appear very rational, his eyes would practically drip honey when looking at Huo Zeshen. Huo Zeshen was his type, and he usually treated him with great respect. Such details couldn't be faked for long, and Lin Juangui trusted his judgment of people.

After a torrential downpour, the two officially became a couple, and Huo Zeshen felt content.

Xiao Juan in this world didn't always lower his head to ponder things. He handled everything with ease, yet his face showed little of the deep worries.

Although Huo Zeshen sometimes saw sorrow and pain in Lin Juangui's eyes when he mentioned the past, Lin Juangui remained strong, telling Huo Zeshen it was all over.

Huo Zeshen genuinely ached for Lin Juangui.

He told him, "It won't be so hard from now on."

With me here, I can definitely shelter you from wind and rain.

Dr. Huo, now in love, started having the most beautiful seasonal flowers delivered to Lin Juangui's office every week. The greeting cards were all handwritten by Huo Zeshen himself, looking like scribbles.

Lin Juangui couldn't decipher the doctors' special handwriting. After receiving the flowers, he would take a photo and send it to Huo Zeshen, asking what was written on the card.

"'When I feel fragile, I repeat your name.'"

Lin Juangui pursed his lips, instinctively resisting Huo Zeshen's overwhelming emotions for a moment, but he soon laughed again. "So corny."

Earlier, when Huo Zeshen gave Lin Juangui a pet name, it made Lin Juangui think this man had quite a few romantic tricks up his sleeve. He praised Lin Juangui's name as very beautiful and said he wanted to be Lin Juangui's lifelong nest. It was so corny it gave Lin Juangui goosebumps all over, but honestly, Lin Juangui was totally into it.

When a man acts cute, Lin Juangui's soul floats away.

Huo Zeshen had him hooked, line and sinker.

Lin Juangui placed the flowers on his desk and asked Huo Zeshen when he had time off.

"I want to go out and have fun with you. Before, I always slept at home during my annual leave. But since being with you, I feel we need to try something new. Otherwise, you might find dating me boring, right?"

Huo Zeshen retorted that it wouldn't be boring at all. "Even just being quietly together with you, doing nothing, feels wonderful to me."

After all, this world had no warfare, no insects; society was running smoothly. Although Lin Juangui was busy with work and had many social engagements, he never brought work into his personal life. When spending time with Huo Zeshen, they were mostly relaxed and casual.

This feeling was truly wonderful, letting Huo Zeshen feel incredibly happy even in quiet moments.

So when Lin Juangui suggested traveling, he readily agreed and arranged his vacation time. Their relationship developed steadily like this for several years.

Around this time, Huo Zeshen took Lin Juangui home to visit his parents. Lin Juangui learned he was the Lin family's long-lost child and that the Lin and Huo families were old friends.

The elders of both families found Huo Zeshen and Lin Juangui's relationship a little too coincidental, but Huo Zeshen was so outstanding. He was just dating a boy. It wasn't like he was doing anything illegal or against the rules, so there was nothing unacceptable about it. As for Lin Juangui, it went without saying—as long as he was alive, that was better than anything.

Their love received blessings from many people. From spending time with Lin Juangui, Huo Zeshen finally understood that the starting point of their meeting was actually different.

When Huo Zeshen first met Lin Juangui, Lin Juangui had already been in love with him for years. This explained why Lin Juangui approached him so naturally after meeting him and why he always seemed to be spacing out when looking at him.

Just as Lin Juangui explained to Huo Zeshen, he had always loved Huo Zeshen, and that never changed.

But at that time, Huo Zeshen was too young and didn't understand a thing. Lin Juangui could only bury all his loneliness and heartache in his heart, never telling anyone.

Only when he was by Huo Zeshen's side was Lin Juangui most relaxed.

Every time he thought about it, Huo Zeshen's heart ached. He felt he'd really done Lin Juangui wrong and had misunderstood him for so long.

So how did Lin Juangui end up in that interstellar era? Could it be the same as Huo Zeshen...

Huo Zeshen didn't dare to dwell on it. He began to pay extra-close attention to Lin Juangui's health, making sure he cut back on caffeine, and occasionally whipping up little snacks for Lin Juangui to take to work.

To get Lin Juangui to eat healthier, Huo Zeshen even went and got himself certified as a nutritionist. Not only that, whenever he had free time, he would work hard on his cooking at home.

Lin Juangui was the envy of countless people for having such a considerate and domestic boyfriend. Lin Juangui himself sometimes found it unreal, hugging Huo Zeshen's waist and asking what he'd done to deserve this.

Huo Zeshen knew that Lin Juangui in this world would feel, just as he himself once had, why anyone would treat him so well. He told Lin Juangui not to worry his head over things like that.

"Xiao Juan, you're great just as you are. You are the best person, and you deserve everything."

Just as Lin Juangui had once given Huo Zeshen infinite strength, Huo Zeshen would not let any of Lin Juangui's emotions go unanswered.

Huo Zeshen proved his love through practical actions. Lin Juangui, nurtured by this love, became like a child, freely acting like his true self around Huo Zeshen.

It seemed that as long as he was in front of Huo Zeshen, he could let his guard down completely, revealing all his needs and vulnerabilities.

Huo Zeshen grew more confident in this relationship. He was no longer some pitiful creature Lin Juangui could just cast aside. It turned out he was so important to Lin Juangui, and Lin Juangui truly loved him.

He loved Lin Juangui just as deeply.

Lin Juangui was now not only a top executive at the company but also held a pivotal position within the family that owned it, serving as the most powerful second-in-command.

The old man who appreciated him had left Lin Juangui a significant portion of his shares in his will, clearly intending for Lin Juangui to remain loyal to his family for life, and ideally, to help his grandson get his act together and stop fooling around.

Huo Zeshen knew Lin Juangui was having a hard time of it lately. Holding those shares wasn't a golden ticket to a carefree life; it meant endless responsibilities and burdens.

Lin Juangui considered resigning. He asked Huo Zeshen, "I'm feeling a little lost now. I've worked at the company for over a decade. If I resign and do nothing, would I just waste away?"

Huo Zeshen comforted him, "Life has a way of working itself out. You've been busy for so many years. What you'll do in the future, what you want to do—time will slowly give you the answers. And I will always be by your side, supporting you, forever unchanged."

Years had passed, and Huo Zeshen had become Lin Juangui's pillar of strength.

All these years, Lin Juangui had been working tirelessly for the company. Outsiders called him the Zhou family's fiercest dog, but Lin Juangui had strong principles in both life and work. His reputation was blown out of proportion by outsiders, but industry insiders still held his abilities in high regard.

Lin Juangui wasn't afraid of not finding another job. Even if he couldn't work in the future, he could live comfortably on his investments over the years, at least he wouldn't have to worry about putting food on the table.

After making his decision, Lin Juangui submitted his resignation.

He planned to sell his shares, not to the highest bidder, but based on the buyer's friendliness towards the Zhou family.

Lin Juangui's decision sent Zhou Yi into a rage. He asked Lin Juangui why he was doing this and if he was leaving because his boyfriend had influenced him. Lin Juangui just glanced at Zhou Yi, not about to waste his breath explaining things to a fool.

Even if the shares were given to Zhou Yi, they wouldn't be of much use. Although Zhou Yi had never quite understood why the old man gave shares to Lin Juangui, he had happily accepted, thinking it would bind Lin Juangui to him forever.

But who would have thought Lin Juangui didn't see this as a great gift but rather as a burden?

When Zhou Yi, after the old man's death, told Lin Juangui he was entrusting himself completely to him, Lin Juangui only felt a headache.

He really didn't like this feeling of babysitting, especially since Zhou Yi already had inappropriate feelings for him, and his mind had been spoiled by years of luxury, leaving him without a single serious thought in his head.

Lin Juangui didn't want to work for such a person. Even though the old man had recognized his talent back then, he had worked tirelessly for the company all these years, and that debt of gratitude was repaid. No one could guilt-trip him.

But Zhou Yi's level of absurdity far exceeded Lin Juangui's imagination.

Since Lin Juangui started dating, he'd visibly lightened up compared to before.

Gone was his usual tense and distant appearance. He smiled more at those around him, and it was easy for people to tell he was happy.

Zhou Yi knew Lin Juangui had never looked favorably upon him. After all, ever since that time he got drunk, jerked off in front of Lin Juangui while confessing his love, and was expressionlessly recorded by Lin Juangui, Zhou Yi hadn't dared to appear before Lin Juangui and annoy him again.

He was afraid Lin Juangui would show the video to his grandfather, which would surely get him locked up at home forever.

However, after learning what kind of person Lin Juangui's boyfriend was, Zhou Yi seemed to have found a target for attack. He thought Huo Zeshen was just average.

Apart from being handsome, tall, having a good personality, knowing how to please Lin Juangui, and understanding how to take care of him, Huo Zeshen couldn't help Lin Juangui one bit in his career.

The more Zhou Yi thought about it, the more he believed he was the one who loved Lin Juangui the most. After all, he could give Lin Juangui everything he had, like handing over the entire Zhou Group to him, as long as Lin Juangui left him some pocket money. Could Huo Zeshen do that?

Unconsciously, Zhou Yi's hatred for Huo Zeshen had reached its peak.

After Lin Juangui submitted his resignation, there was a transition period. He resigned unilaterally; the employer didn't really have the option to agree or disagree, as Lin Juangui had the ability to walk away without any burden on his conscience.

But the ones panicking became the group's senior management and Zhou Yi himself.

Zhou Yi felt wronged. He believed he hadn't done anything to hurt Lin Juangui, so why was Lin Juangui treating him this way?

At such times, Zhou Yi desperately needed an outlet for his emotions, so he rushed directly to Huo Zeshen's workplace to find him.

"The urology department isn't on this floor." Huo Zeshen opened with a top-tier taunt, leaving Zhou Yi speechless for a moment.

What did that mean? Was he mocking him for previously seeing a doctor due to erectile difficulties?

Zhou Yi quickly adjusted his mindset, putting on a foolish act of looking down on Huo Zeshen. "You seduced him. If it weren't for you, Lin Juangui would be with me now. We would run the group well together. What does it have to do with you?"

"Seduced, huh... Okay, I admit it. I did seduce him, and I'm grateful he was willing to be seduced by me."

"..." Why wasn't this guy following the script? Usually, people with a strong moral sense would feel ashamed hearing such words, right?

It just showed Huo Zeshen was truly shameless and proud of it.

Zhou Yi suddenly took out his phone from his pocket, put the receiver to his ear, and said to the person on the other end, "Did you hear that? He admitted it himself!"

The call ended. A few seconds later, Huo Zeshen's phone rang.

"Okay, got it."

Just then, a nurse came over saying a patient's condition was unstable. Huo Zeshen stood up and said to Zhou Yi, "I have to work. Make yourself at home."

Huo Zeshen left quickly. Zhou Yi watched his retreating figure, took a deep breath, and felt the helplessness of punching cotton.

Huo Zeshen was well aware that many small fry around Lin Juangui had designs on him, but compared to Mu Zhang, these people were on a completely lower level—beneath Huo Zeshen’s notice. Still, he would occasionally use them as an excuse to play the victim in front of Lin Juangui.

Lin Juangui’s heart had always leaned toward Huo Zeshen. He sought out Zhou Yi and told him to back off and stop harassing his boyfriend.

“People might think *you're* into him. Do you want me to mess with you again?” Lin Juangui didn’t want to treat Zhou Yi this way, but after Zhou Yi deliberately caused trouble at Huo Zeshen’s workplace, Lin Juangui couldn’t just ignore it.

Zhou Yi immediately knew Huo Zeshen had tattled on him, which only deepened his hatred toward Huo Zeshen.

He went out drinking to drown his sorrows. One of the friends he was with asked if he wanted revenge on Huo Zeshen. Of course Zhou Yi did, but seeing how thick as thieves Lin Juangui and Huo Zeshen were, he knew breaking them apart wouldn’t be easy.

So many years had passed, and Lin Juangui had long regarded Huo Zeshen as his soulmate. Zhou Yi had never even made it onto Lin Juangui’s list.

Zhou Yi could never have imagined that a single drunken remark from him would cost Lin Juangui Huo Zeshen forever.

Huo Zeshen was not someone careless with his life, but he couldn’t withstand a deliberate trap set by malevolent spirits, who dragged him down and prevented him from swimming to the surface.

As seawater flooded his mouth and nose, Huo Zeshen let out a soft sigh in his heart.

Having shared these years with Lin Juangui was already beautiful. It’s just that he had to make Lin Juangui endure the pain of losing him again—he truly felt sorry for Lin Juangui.

Huo Zeshen had long been content, yet he was still unwilling.

Why couldn’t they make it to the end? Why couldn’t Huo Zeshen grow old with Lin Juangui?

Huo Zeshen hated it so much. What more did he have to do to earn heaven’s favor?

No one would hear these inner thoughts. As the seawater washed over him and sunlight filtered through, Huo Zeshen’s consciousness drifted in boundless chaos.

The mirror fragment he always wore against his chest turned to dust the moment he lost consciousness, saving his life.

A burning, alternating pain tore at Huo Zeshen, while a golden light flickered incessantly in the chaos. A powerful will, like a quenched steel needle, pierced through the fog.

The dizziness receded like a tide, replaced by an icy, extreme clarity.

Huo Zeshen opened his eyes.

He had returned to his battlefield.