Chapter 50

Chapter 50

"050"

The hospital room froze instantly.

The only sound was Xiao Lancui's low, shallow cough.

Huo Shenan, who had just arrived at the door, also stopped moving—he couldn't step in, and leaving would make noise.

Xiao Mian's mouth stretched to the human limit, his gaze bouncing between Xiao Lancui and Xiao Anfeng.

Xiao Anfeng thought this was insane. Ever since Xiao Lancui had returned from the sea, his world had become particularly insane.

He moved stiffly to pick up the thin piece of paper, about to look at it, when Xiao Liqin snatched it away. Xiao Liqin put it in his pocket, his stern gaze landing on Xiao Lancui, then stepped forward to pull Xie Jingfang away. "Mom, Anfeng is still sick. Let's take this home."

Xie Jingfang slapped his hand away.

After Xiao Liqin's cover-up last night, Xie Jingfang had a hunch, but now she was certain. Her eyes bloodshot, she asked, each word deliberate, "How long have you known?"

Then she turned to Xiao Mian and demanded, "And you—how long have you known!"

Going after everyone, Xiao Mian immediately raised both hands and said, "I didn't do anything!" He still hadn't fully processed it. "Wait, so Third Brother is actually my second brother?"

No one answered. Xie Jingfang turned and glared at Xiao Liqin.

Xiao Liqin's jaw was tight. He grabbed Xie Jingfang's arm, and since she was petite, she couldn't break free as he dragged her toward the door. She screamed, "Xiao Liqin!"

Xiao Liqin said nothing, only wanting to get Xie Jingfang out quickly. The look on Xiao Anfeng's face just now looked like it was falling apart.

He made it two steps before someone blocked him.

Xiao Lancui coughed a little, his face growing paler, completely drained of color, like he might pass out any second. But his deep black eyes held an unyielding command.

"Let go."

Xiao Liqin's heart jolted, and his grip loosened without him even realizing it. Xie Jingfang yanked her hand free and swung, slapping Xiao Liqin across the face.

"You're all a bunch of liars!"

After slapping him, Xie Jingfang stood in front of Xiao Lancui, gripping his hand again, her voice shaking and breaking. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here with my son!"

Tears kept streaming down Xiao Anfeng's face. Pale as a ghost, he roared, "Someone tell me! What the hell is going on?!"

He woke up, and the whole world had flipped.

Xiao Liqin was hurt, Xiao Jingli wouldn't pick up his calls, and now even Mom—the mom who loved him the most—wasn't his anymore!

Just then, someone spoke awkwardly from the doorway. "Uncle Xiao, you made it."

Huo Shenan silently moved aside to let Xiao Jingli pass.

Xiao Jingli had no idea what was going on, walking in and saying, "What's all the racket—"

He suddenly saw Xie Jingfang holding Xiao Lancui's hand. His pupils shrank. At that moment, Xiao Lancui noticed what Xie Jingfang was doing. He cooperated and stepped back, and Xie Jingfang let go of his hand, lunged forward, grabbed Xiao Jingli by the shoulders, and bit down hard on his neck.

Xiao Jingli screamed in agony.

Blood dripped from the corner of Xie Jingfang's mouth. She stared at that chunk of flesh, wanting nothing more than to rip it off.

Xiao Anfeng, still crying, was the first to rush over. "Mom! Let go—" He tugged at Xie Jingfang desperately.

But Xie Jingfang had found a burst of incredible strength. Xiao Anfeng couldn't move her an inch. In a panic, he shouted at Xiao Lancui, "Are you dead or what?! Come help!"

Xiao Lancui didn't move. Xiao Liqin was about to step in when Xiao Lancui went to calm Xie Jingfang first, his voice neither loud nor quiet, but loud enough for everyone in and out of the room to hear.

"Mom."

Xie Jingfang let go. She glanced at Xiao Anfeng—a look of dead silence and utter despair. Xiao Anfeng was still holding Xiao Jingli up, suddenly at a loss. "Mom, I..."

Xie Jingfang looked away. She turned to Xiao Lancui, tears streaming endlessly, and pleaded, "Say it again, please?"

"Mom." Xiao Lancui pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the horrifying blood from her lips, his long lashes dipping slightly. "Let's go."

Xie Jingfang nodded and clutched Xiao Lancui's hand tightly once more.

Xiao Lancui led Xie Jingfang past Xiao Jingli. Xiao Jingli clutched his neck, blood still seeping between his fingers, his face pale. He looked at Xiao Lancui, still trying to play the part. "Dong Dong, listen to your fa—"

"Dad, I don't want to talk to you right now." Xiao Lancui didn't stop, not looking at anyone. "We'll talk later."

As he passed Huo Shenan, Huo Shenan gave an awkward nod.

Xiao Lancui pretended not to see it, supporting Xie Jingfang as they left.

Xiao Mian finally processed it all. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but all that came out to the three people left in the room was one word.

"Damn..."

He quickly ran after them. "Mom, Brother, wait up!"

*

Back in Xie Jingfang's hospital room, she went to the bathroom to clean herself up first.

Xiao Mian tried to speak a few times but swallowed his words when he saw Xiao Lancui drinking his medicine.

The herbal medicine was bitter. Xiao Lancui sipped it slowly, thinking through his next moves, and spoke at the same time.

"Dad swapped me and Xiao Anfeng. That's all there is to it."

Xiao Mian knew, but he didn't get it. "Why would the old man do that?"

"He loves Xiao Anfeng." Xiao Lancui's words carried a double meaning.

Xiao Mian, of course, only took it as paternal love at the moment. He gritted his teeth. "Vicious!" What followed was a wave of overwhelming guilt.

He suddenly bowed at a ninety-degree angle. "Hit me, curse me, do whatever you want. I swear I won't fight back. I'm sorry!"

Xiao Lancui didn't respond. He looked toward the bathroom—Xie Jingfang had come out.

Xie Jingfang asked Xiao Mian to go buy something. Knowing she wanted to be alone with Xiao Lancui, he left with reluctant backward glances.

He wanted to stick close to Xiao Lancui too now.

It was a strange, wonderful feeling, completely different from before. Xiao Lancui was his real brother! Not half-blood—full blood! He and Xiao Lancui shared the same blood!

Xiao Mian darkly realized he was actually happy—happy from the moment he heard Xiao Lancui was his real brother. He took a deep breath and whispered.

"Brother. My real brother!"

Only Xie Jingfang and Xiao Lancui remained in the room. Xie Jingfang found it hard to speak, and only after a long silence did she ask quietly, "Your poison... is it serious?"

"Yeah."

Xie Jingfang nearly buried her head in the quilt. "I'm sorry."

Xiao Lancui also didn't reply to that. He said, "Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"

There was.

So much.

From day to night, Xie Jingfang asked about every detail, big and small.

"What food do you like?"

"What color do you like?"

"What books do you like to read?"

...

Xiao Lancui answered each according to the original body's habits. That night, he slept on the sofa, and Xie Jingfang watched him all night—he knew.

It was almost dawn when Xie Jingfang finally fell asleep. Xiao Lancui immediately grabbed his coat and quickly left the hospital.

The heartwarming family reunion was over. The emotional impact so far wasn't enough yet. If he disappeared for a while, Xie Jingfang's scales would tip decisively in his favor.

Xiao Lancui turned off his phone and got into a taxi.

He arrived at his rented apartment complex before six. The sky was gloomy, snow falling—it had been snowing all night. The property management hadn't cleared the snow yet, and the ground was covered in thick white snow. Most people were still asleep, with only a few windows glowing with warm light.

Their home—his and Lu Ao's—had no lights on.

Lu Ao was sleeping.

Or maybe—he'd run away.

Xiao Lancui wasn't sure. He'd never raised a puppy before, but when he was very young, he'd had a cat.

A little white cat that had suddenly appeared in his small courtyard one day. He raised it for a long time, and the kitten grew into a big cat. Then one day, just as suddenly, the big white cat was gone.

Xiao Lancui searched for a long time but never found it.

But Lu Ao was different from that white cat—and even more so from that wolf.

He'd given Lu Ao the chance to choose.

It was Lu Ao who chose to follow him.

Once chosen, there was no backing out—he would belong to Xiao Lancui alone for life.

So if he dared to run, no matter how far, Xiao Lancui would catch him and give him a little punishment.

This satisfying feeling lifted Xiao Lancui's spirits, and even climbing the stairs felt easy. But as he turned the corner at the second-floor landing, he stopped.

In front of the door, Lu Ao sat on the floor, leaning against it, arms wrapped around his knees, chin resting on them. The moment Xiao Lancui appeared, those dazed black eyes lit up like stars. Shouting "Brother's back!" he bounded down the stairs and hugged him tightly.

The young man smelled of the clean scent of the body wash Xiao Lancui had bought. Xiao Lancui was stunned for a moment, and when he came to his senses, he raised both arms to hug Lu Ao back.

The puppy—hadn't run away.

Lu Ao had given a third option: waiting for him.

Xiao Lancui hugged Lu Ao back and clearly felt Lu Ao's whole body tremble. He thought he'd startled him, so he lightly patted Lu Ao's back twice with his right hand and asked, "How long have you been waiting?"

Lu Ao couldn't hold back. He tightened his arms around Xiao Lancui's waist, burying his entire face in Xiao Lancui's neck, greedily and longingly inhaling Xiao Lancui's unique scent.

He said in a muffled voice, "126 minutes." He tightened his grip again, wishing he could embed Xiao Lancui into his very bones and blood, never to be separated for all eternity.

Xiao Lancui was held so tightly he could barely move. He shifted slightly, and Lu Ao immediately loosened his grip. "I was counting down until you'd come back—54 more minutes left."

At the same time, he looked up, quickly kissed Xiao Lancui's left cheek—very light, very fast—then pulled away, looking at Xiao Lancui and blinking with innocent joy. "But Brother came early after all!"

The warmth on his cheek was so ethereal it felt like an illusion. Xiao Lancui was a bit unaccustomed, but then he thought—puppies were very affectionate. There was a Minister Xu in the cabinet who kept a Pekingese and often complained about getting his face licked all over with drool—the dog loved him too much.

Lu Ao's breath still smelled of the fresh toothpaste Xiao Lancui had bought. Xiao Lancui stroked Lu Ao's head. "Let's go home."

Once home, Xiao Lancui showered and went to bed to catch up on sleep.

With outsiders present, he never slept well. Back when he'd been trapped in Shanhaicheng for months, he'd only slept two to four hours a day—half because the battle situation didn't permit rest, half because the county office was safer, and he'd also arranged for several homeless refugees to stay in his room.

The first good sleep he'd had in a long time was when Lu Ao came and the siege was lifted. That night, he hadn't even eaten, sleeping deeply in their temporary room with Lu Ao, not waking until noon the next day.

Xiao Lancui slept just as deeply this time, but he had to take Lu Ao to get his stitches removed that afternoon, so his biological clock woke him right at 12.

Opening his eyes, feeling refreshed, Xiao Lancui smelled something delicious.

After washing up, the aroma grew stronger. He followed the scent to the kitchen, where Lu Ao, wearing an apron, was just carrying a plate out.

On the long white porcelain plate was a very poorly presented—squirrel fish.

Only Lu Ao was in the kitchen. Xiao Lancui was surprised. "You can make squirrel fish now?"

Lu Ao looked a bit shy, his face flushing slightly. "Yeah, I learned it from the housekeeping auntie. I thought it was really tasty and wanted you to try it too, Brother!"

Xiao Lancui was pulled to the table, chopsticks shoved into his hand, and Lu Ao crouched beside him.

Lu Ao was too tall—even half-crouching, he was much higher than the tabletop. He looked up at Xiao Lancui, urging, "Brother, eat it while it's hot! It won't taste good if it's cold!"

Xiao Lancui picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, chewing. Unexpectedly, the taste was not bad.

The fish was fried tender and crispy, the sauce fresh sweet-and-sour, with crispy pine nuts.

He nodded. "Very tasty."

Lu Ao was delighted, urging him to eat more. As Xiao Lancui was about to reach for another bite, his gaze swept past Lu Ao's left wrist. He suddenly set down his chopsticks, grabbed Lu Ao's left hand, and pulled down his sleeve—sure enough, a patch of mottled blisters.

The marks left by splattering hot oil.

Lu Ao tensed, trying to pull his hand back. Xiao Lancui said, "Don't move."

Lu Ao stopped. His Adam's apple bobbed twice, and he apologized. "Sorry, Brother. I'm a bit clumsy—I ruined a lot of fish frying it."

"Doesn't it hurt?" Xiao Lancui took his hand and stood up.

Lu Ao shook his head, obediently following him. "Compared to them, it doesn't hurt at all."

Them—those electric baton strikes. Xiao Lancui's long lashes fluttered slightly. He said no more, leading Lu Ao to the sofa.

He found that tube of ointment in the medicine box and calmly applied it to Lu Ao's hand. The moment that ointment appeared in Xiao Lancui's hands, Lu Ao was reminded of the ointment from the mental hospital.

It was exactly the same.

Had Xiao Lancui already noticed him back then?

That figured.

His A Lan was always so brilliant, and so kind.

Lu Ao looked at Xiao Lancui and asked softly, "Brother, are you angry?"

"No." The blisters on his left hand were all bandaged, and Xiao Lancui then pulled up Lu Ao's right hand, which had a small patch of blisters too.

The clock ticked on, and after finishing the right hand, Xiao Lancui finally said, "Remember, from now on, you're not allowed to get hurt without my say-so."

Lu Ao nodded obediently and said, "If they hit me again, I'll hit back!"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Xiao Lancui's lips. "Let's eat. After we finish, we'll go get the stitches removed."