Ziyu’s heart acutely twitched. Perhaps he should be happy. One would only put hopes on the imaginary next life when they were driven into desperation in this life.

This life, next life.

A promise?

That was how promises work: whether you believe it or not, the result will be the same anyway. Why do people have to give themselves a hard time?

It was late when they went back home but the Broken Bridge on West Lake was still bustling and noisy. Zhishu looked outside and somewhat mesmerized. Ziyu Ai slowed the car down.

“We’ll watch West Lake’s night view when you get better.”

Zhishu retracted his attention from outside the window and shook his head. “No. I came out a lot at night when in school. I’d seen enough.”

Ziyu didn’t know what to say as he had sensed Zhishu He’s despair. He was drowned in much deeper anguish and grief than him.

Ziyu Ai gagged. Light in his eyes flickered as he drove past lamps along the road, and eventually there were only fluids sprouting in his eyes. “Your birthday is in half a month, I’ve got you a present. After that, it’s the New Year, and after the New Year, you should be able to see those jasmine blossoms in our garden. In the following several months, koi carps in Lingyin Lake will be at their reddest and prettiest, I heard wishes made during that time are very likely to come true.”

What the doctor said was imperceptibly incoherent. The words just seemed to pop out of his mouth without thinking. It felt like he was afraid to be soon late for something.

Zhishu stopped looking outside the window. He turned his head slightly to Ziyu, still pale-faced but spiritually invigorated. His smiling face and bright eyes remained the same as the adolescent that seemed to have never gone anywhere.

“Everything else doesn’t matter… just don’t throw a cliffhanger at me though,” Zhishu pulled the hem of Ziyu’s clothes and asked, “What is the present?”

Ziyu shook his head. “Don’t play this with me, no way you’ll know it before your birthday…” He paused briefly, “Unless a kiss?”

Zhishu turned away and humphed. His attitude was nowhere near tough but so soft and girly as if an act of cuteness, which couldn’t be more adorable.

Ziyu laughed. “Good! You didn’t take the bait. Now even a kiss won’t tip you off.”

Zhishu He didn’t reply. He was exhausted and low blood glucose had kept him dizzy the whole day. He didn’t even have the strength to speak when the weariness kicked in.

Ziyu covered his coat on him. “We left in a rush, I forgot to bring a blanket with us. Hang in there for a moment and try not to sleep, or else you’ll wake up more tired and might catch a cold.” Perhaps it was a habit from his job, Ziyu would act like a nagging mother hen when taking care of someone.

Zhishu listened, but the drowsiness still got the better of him. He fell asleep as half of his face was buried in the large coat.

Ziyu slowly reclined the car seat, slowed down the car on their way back home.

If only they could meet earlier, he wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt him, they could keep a big dog, jog along West Lake by night and shiver together, and not give a damn about next life.

Ziyu Ai had hardly hated anyone. It seemed to be a waste of effort and energy but he hated Wenxu Jiang to his guts. The man was cold, ungrateful and selfish, did everything despicable to climb from the bottom to the top. What he possessed eventually, however, meant nothing compared with having the beloved one by his side.

[Just an interim, Jiang the scum is on his way.

There can’t be another seme. Forgiveness doesn’t exist.

Relax.]