Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Morning.

Jiang Jining opened up different cans for each of the seven cats at home. A few were too lazy—he had to use a small spoon to feed them right to their mouths, so they could confirm it was tasty before they would lick it from his hand.

Auntie was preparing breakfast.

Jiang Jining sat on the beanbag chair, holding his phone to message the driver recommended by Fu Yuze about the afternoon trip to Xie Ting.

The driver replied instantly: "No problem."

Bian Han appeared in a white shirt and blue jeans, with light, natural makeup. Seeing that he had already fed the cats, she picked up the nearest one and gave it a big sniff. "I have a lot of work today, so I'm heading out first!"

Seeing her mood had improved quite a bit, Jiang Jining said, "Auntie is making breakfast."

"I'll just take it to go."

Bian Han hurried to the entryway.

She pulled out red high heels from the shoe cabinet taller than a person.

Auntie handed over a packed cup of soy milk and a marinated tea egg, which she accepted.

Before leaving—

Bian Han called Jiang Jining over and said, "After work, I'm going to Bian Jiacheng's place. Do you still remember where your clothes are stored?"

Jiang Jining nodded.

"But we tried them on before…"

"I know, just bring them back first." Bian Han picked up her bag, eyes bright. "I really dreamed you went home last night… Ning Zai, I hope when you remember your time here, every day will be a happy memory."

Jiang Jining thought to himself that he really shouldn't have said too much.

"Don't worry."

Jiang Jining comforted her gently.

If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have told Bian Han about his constitution.

From last night until now, she had been worrying.

But this kind of thing…

There's simply nothing you can do to make it happen.

Bian Han was always extremely anxious about the promise she made when she took him in: to definitely find a way to help him get home.

The first person Jiang Jining saw when he arrived in this world was Bian Han.

Bian Jiacheng showed up in a hurry later, seeing the half-drunk Bian Han sitting by the lake, holding his hand and refusing to let go, insisting on taking him home to care for him.

Since then.

Bian Han helped prepare everything for him.

Missing person registration, gradually establishing proof of his residence, new identity information, guardianship procedures.

Jiang Jining was deeply grateful and didn't want his own matters to make Bian Han frantic and emotionally overwhelmed.

"What should I do?" Bian Han said with a sigh. "I want you to go home, but I'm also afraid you'll leave. What if one day you suddenly disappear? Wouldn't I be left all alone as a lonely old woman?"

Jiang Jining wasn't good at comforting people. "...Sorry."

He couldn't repay her.

Bian Han snorted a laugh. "As long as you eat well, drink well, and do whatever makes you happy, that makes me happier than anything. It even gives me energy for work."

Jiang Jining saw her out.

Auntie had finished breakfast and called him over to eat before starting the cleaning.

Breakfast was plentiful, but unfortunately, Jiang Jining didn't have much appetite today. He managed a few bites, then went to groom the cats one by one as they lined up, creating a large pile of brushed-out fur until his hands were sore.

"Buzz—"

Chef: "When are you coming over?"

Jiang Jining rarely received messages from Fu Yuze in the morning. He put down the grooming brush and told him: "After the lunch break."

Chef: "Okay."

Jiang Jining liked such brief chats.

The morning passed with reading, petting cats, and practicing calligraphy. He packed his swimming bag and placed it in the living room. Auntie, tidying the dining table, saw it and asked, "Xiao Jiang, are you going out this afternoon?"

"Mm." Jiang Jining thought he could say, "I'm going swimming."

"Alright, then I'll finish cleaning and head back first this afternoon. I'll come back for dinner." Auntie said.

Jiang Jining agreed.

In the afternoon, Auntie's task was to take care of his needs. Since he wouldn't be there, she could naturally leave.

...

3:15 PM.

Jiang Jining arrived right on time at the entrance of Xie Ting.

As the driver turned the corner, the black iron gate slowly opened. After the car entered the outer courtyard, he suddenly said, "Rich people's homes are so smart… No wonder the navigation earlier asked me to specifically input the license plate number for verification."

Jiang Jining hadn't paid much attention.

It sounded a bit troublesome.

So when he got out to pay the driver, he added an extra zero.

Jiang Jining walked to the door with his backpack, and it opened directly. A kind, amiable face came into view. "Xiao Ning is back."

"Uncle Lu."

Jiang Jining was warmly welcomed inside.

He wanted to ask if Fu Yuze was home, but throughout, there was only Uncle Lu's concern and Auntie Tao's snacks and fruits being served.

"No more, thank you." Jiang Jining had also only managed a few bites at noon. The food at Xie Ting was refreshing and exquisite, so he managed to eat a little more. He said to Auntie Tao, "I'm too full. It'll be uncomfortable when I get in the water later."

Aunt Tao went along with it. "That's true."

Jiang Jining's main purpose was still swimming.

He dove in and didn't come up for air, his movements graceful and as nimble as a fish.

To mix up his stamina training, he had Uncle Lu prepare a tray of suction-cup ducks. Going back and forth between the water and the edge, he stuck them one by one in the deep end, then brought them back the same way and placed them back on the tray.

This was much more interesting than simply timing himself.

His practice had really paid off; ten ducks were exactly his limit.

Today, after much effort, he had only managed half.

He was running out of steam.

Jiang Jining had no choice but to swim to the edge to rest.

But he felt sore and weak all over. Checking the time, it had been less than fifteen minutes.

Had he regressed so much after just four or five days without maintaining his routine?

He was uncharacteristically bummed out.

If only he had eaten more today. Jiang Jining took a towel and laid it out, preparing to get out of the water to rest for a while. But as soon as he exerted force, his strength gave out. He scrambled back into the water and ended up choking on a mouthful.

"Cough, cough..."

The water was still buoyant.

He barely registered it.

Still unsure, he gave up on trying to jump out and instead walked up the steps from the shallow end.

But as soon as he emerged from the water—

He was pulled down by the weight of his own body!

Fortunately, he grabbed the railing in time.

This overwhelming, familiar sensation...

Today was only the 22nd!

In this situation, Jiang Jining could only think of his heat cycle.

But he was always very punctual; it was off by at most two days. It had never come this early before.

Could he be mistaken?

The first wave was always the most intense.

He didn't dare move recklessly; any large movements or nervousness would exacerbate his reaction.

He slowly stood up.

He walked over to pick up the towel and draped it over himself.

Jiang Jining's steps into the shower room felt as if he were treading on clouds—unsteady, staggering.

He didn't even dare take a shower. Jiang Jining pulled out a pullover T-shirt and long pants, put them on, wrapped the towel around his neck and his flushed, burning cheeks, clutched his backpack to his chest, and walked out.

Unfortunately, he ran into Aunt Tao looking around for someone.

In his condition, Jiang Jining reflexively wanted to hide when he saw people. His better judgment made him keep walking, "...Aunt Tao, I... I should head home."

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Aunt Tao noticed his moist eyes and flushed face; anyone who didn't know might think he had just been bullied. "Should I inform Mr. Fu and have him send you?"

Mr. Fu? *Him*?

Jiang Jining tightened his grip on the backpack against his chest, "Is Fu Yuze home?"

"Yes, he is." Aunt Tao, her intentions clear, said plainly, "Mr. Fu returned after the restaurant's lunch service ended. He didn't go to the company and has been working in the study."

"That's okay, he doesn't need to."

Jiang Jining shook his head vigorously like a rattle-drum.

As soon as he finished speaking, a sudden warmth spread in his lower abdomen. He took a step, intending to leave, but the slick, uncomfortable sensation made him frown tightly.

No.

...Taking a taxi home would likely lead to trouble.

Jiang Jining silently took a deep breath, turned to Aunt Tao, and said, "...Would it disturb his work?"

Aunt Tao, smiling brightly, went to call him.

Struggling in every way, Jiang Jining walked through the long corridor. He leaned against the post by the door, his head hanging dejectedly. Only by staying as still as possible could he slightly alleviate that shaky, boneless feeling.

Jiang Jining stared at his watch in silence.

Why was Fu Yuze home but hadn't come to see him?

When they texted, it wasn't like this at all.

Jiang Jining thought this, but then realized it was fortunate Fu Yuze was home; otherwise, going home alone would have been too dangerous... Better than embarrassing himself in front of other people.

"Why are you so wet?"

A voice asked, puzzled, beside him.

Jiang Jining felt as if his secret had been exposed. He clenched his fists, his entire face flushing uncontrollably, "You..."

"Sitting here avoiding the sun to stay cool, what if you catch a cold?" Fu Yuze saw he had made a scarf out of the towel for himself, like a clumsy, slow penguin pretending to have extra fat, except his face was bright red.

Fu Yuze smiled and changed his words, "Aren't you hot?"

Misunderstood again.

Jiang Jining felt his face grow even hotter.

He secretly exerted effort, supporting himself against the pillar to stand up, and retorted stiffly, "I'm not hot."

Fu Yuze said, "Wait for me in the outer courtyard, get some sun."

Jiang Jining nodded but didn't move.

Fu Yuze saw that he responded to every sentence but didn't act, raised an eyebrow, then turned and walked away anyway.

Jiang Jining moved as if in slow motion as he shuffled out. At the door, Uncle Lu approached: "Xiao Ning, let me help you register a fingerprint so it's easier for you to come and go in the future."

Come and go...

There's no need to come this month.

Jiang Jining rebelled inwardly, but his movements were obedient. As he repeatedly pressed his finger on the fingerprint lock, his head felt heavy and muddled.

Without showering or changing clothes, his whole body was soaked... it was almost impossible to tell where the stickiness was coming from anymore.

"All set."

Uncle Lu seemed to have accomplished a major life task.

Seeing Jiang Jining staring fixedly at the garage, he beamed, "Come whenever you want from now on, just like your own home. Ever since you left, Xiao Ning, the master has been alone. Besides going to and from work, he only comes home. He's been very lonely."

I can see that.

Jiang Jining was too weak to say more and nodded... staring at the ground, thinking he was truly miserable.

Why did the heat cycle come so much earlier?

Jiang Jining vaguely remembered the physician mentioning it.

But the mere thought made his head swim with fever, preventing any coherent thinking.

This heat persisted as he got in the car and during the journey.

Jiang Jining refused to sit in the passenger seat and chose the back seat. He accidentally stumbled, and Uncle Lu's hand, which wasn't fast enough to catch him, was replaced by Fu Yuze's from the driver's seat.

Skin touched skin.

Jiang Jining's legs went weak instantly, and he knelt on the seat.

However, the hand that had caught him shifted to grasp his own, squeezing his delicate palm.

Fu Yuze frowned slightly: "So hot, no wonder your face is so red."

Uncle Lu looked on anxiously: "Did you bump your leg?"

Jiang Jining's heart raced wildly. His eyes welling up, he looked at Fu Yuze and shook his head gently, his pleading expression evoking pity.

Please don't ask, okay?

Fu Yuze sensed that was the meaning. "It's fine, I caught him. Close the door, I'll take him back."

The electric door closed.

Fu Yuze asked Jiang Jining: "Are you feeling unwell?"

Receiving an affirmative response, he kept watching Jiang Jining's troubled face in the rearview mirror and said nothing more.

Feeling secure in the enclosed space,

Jiang Jining felt safer, and he remembered how to adjust his emotions and physical state, but he didn't dare let his guard down. The first wave of the heat cycle's reaction... wouldn't end on its own before relief.

After entering the residential area, Jiang Jining mustered his strength to tell Fu Yuze the detailed route.

The car reached its destination.

After unbuckling his seatbelt, Fu Yuze said, "Don't move."

Jiang Jining stared blankly as Fu Yuze came to his side, opened the car door, asked for his backpack, used the access card to open the courtyard gate, then leaned down and asked him: "Can you walk?"

He couldn't walk steadily even before getting in the car.

Jiang Jining thought, *He really did see clearly*. His fingers gripped the soft leather seat, and he shook his head.

"I'll carry you for a bit."

Fu Yuze hoisted him steadily onto his back.

Carrying the backpack in one hand, he used his long leg to nudge the car door shut. The sun shone right into the car.

Where Jiang Jining had been sitting was a damp patch.

He noticed it as well.

Jiang Jining suddenly clutched the fabric on Fu Yuze's shoulder, stammering, "...My... my clothes are still wet, not dry."

Fu Yuze hooked his arm under Jiang Jining's knees, feeling only the damp, warm fabric, so he didn't suspect anything. After walking through the courtyard, Jiang Jining reached out to press the home lock.

"Beep—"

"Fingerprint input error."

"Try again," Fu Yuze reminded him. "Fingerprints can be hard to recognize after being soaked in water for too long."

So Jiang Jining pressed again with a trembling hand.

This time it opened. He wrapped his arms around Fu Yuze's neck, afraid of falling and the embarrassment it would cause. He rested his head against the man's broad shoulder, his eyelashes trembling finely—his body was getting hotter and hotter.

As soon as they entered the living room, several adorable furry bundles of different colors came running over, trying to dash outside. Fu Yuze used his long leg to scoop them back and closed the door.

"Meow..."

"Mrrow..."

Jiang Jining, seeing he was still playing with the cats, angrily hit him twice, too weak to even get properly angry. "Go, go to my room."

Fu Yuze adjusted his hold. "Which one?"

Jiang Jining lay on his shoulder, speaking weakly, "Just keep going inside."

In the bedroom, Jiang Jining, in his wrinkled, damp clothes, absolutely refused to lie on the bed. He clung to Fu Yuze, wanting to be put down, but couldn't even stand steadily.

As soon as his feet touched the ground...

He almost knelt down again in a grand gesture.