Chapter 43 - 2#

Over the years, Chi Gui had been like an endless work machine, running nonstop only to keep himself from thinking too much about the person he couldn’t mention.

But just four months ago, Chi Gui, who had been living like a human machine, suddenly seemed to gain consciousness.

Not only did he frequently reply to messages across time zones, but occasionally there was even a hint of a smile on his face.

His assistant, Chen Yiming, probed indirectly and only then managed to catch a glimpse of the truth—

The person his boss held dearest in his heart had sought him out, apparently to discuss something about a script or a screenplay.

After three months of chatting across time zones and through screens, Chi Gui could no longer hold back.

The moment he wrapped up a project worth over ten billion in profits, he immediately returned to the country.

The car drove out of the airport and sped smoothly along the elevated highway.

Even after a long flight, Chi Gui felt no trace of drowsiness. He switched his phone to a domestic data plan, and as soon as the signal connected, he opened the WeChat chat pinned at the top.

Perhaps it was fate—

Almost at the same time, Chi Gui received a video call from the other person.

“…”

Chi Gui’s fingers tightened slightly around his phone.

He knew that throughout their time chatting through screens, the two of them had never met through “video call.”

To the person on the other end of the screen, he wasn’t using the identity of “Chi Gui.”

The vibration of the incoming video call continued.

In the end, Chi Gui couldn’t resist the sudden temptation. Covering the camera with his thumb, he pressed the answer button.

But he never expected that the moment the screen changed—

The one he had longed for day and night was lying helplessly on the ground, a face pale without a trace of blood, eyes bloodshot from suffocation.

“Jing Shun?!”

“…”

There was no response from the other end. The only remaining image slid away as the phone tilted, and everything went dark.

The others in the car were startled by Chi Gui’s sudden shout. Wei Di reacted the fastest: “Sir, what’s wrong?”

Something had happened!

The moment Chi Gui realized this thought, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cavern.

He forced himself to calm down quickly and gave a direct order: “Xiangzhang Garden! Now!”

Driver Old Zhang dared not hesitate. He floored the accelerator.

Chi Gui had always known that Chi Sheng had arranged a new address for Jing Shun, but he had believed it was a new life Jing Shun had chosen willingly.

Therefore, no matter how powerful or wealthy he was, he never dared to have anyone watch over or secretly spy on the other’s life, afraid that his uncontrolled feelings might disturb him.

He never thought that the first time he would say the name of that neighborhood would be in a situation like this.

As his special assistant, Chen Yiming reacted swiftly, immediately calling the police and contacting the hospital near the neighborhood.

The car sped at maximum velocity.

Even though the screen in his phone had gone dark, Chi Gui didn’t dare hang up.

He tried calling Jing Shun’s name over and over again, but there was no response from the other end. In the end, all he could hear was the gradually fading sound of faint breathing, like a silent arrival of death.

By the time they reached the Xiangzhang upscale neighborhood, heavy snowflakes were falling.

Chi Gui ran and broke into the residential area, letting the chill seep into him. When the elevator didn’t come down, he ran all the way up to the fifth floor.

The door of 502 was ajar.

The moment Chi Gui tried to push it open, trembling, his body uncontrollably gave way and he collapsed.

The world spun, as if falling into an abyss.

“—Jing Shun!”

Chi Gui woke with a start, his breathing so rapid he couldn’t catch his breath.

He pressed his hand over his forehead and eyes, and only after a long time did he manage to break free from the nightmare that felt all too real.

A knock came at the door.

It was Wei Di’s voice: “Sir, are you awake?”

Chi Gui controlled his surging emotions and breathing, then sat up. “Come in.”

Wei Di opened the door and walked in. “Sir, how do you feel? Our flight is at two. Should we change the time?”

“What time is it now?”

“Just past ten-thirty. Young Master Jing has already gotten up and eaten.”

Wei Di was astute enough to report on Jing Shun’s condition.

Chi Gui noticed the honey water on the bedside table. His mouth was dry, so he picked it up and drank it all in one go. “Don’t change the time. I’ll tidy up quickly and make it in time.”

Chi Gui’s mind, for once, was a complete fog, still caught up in that nighttime nightmare that had repeated countless times.

He noticed his own pajamas. “How did I get back last night? Who changed my clothes?”

The last impression left in his memory was looking out the car window, thinking that when he got home he should quickly go in, wash up, and change clothes so that Jing Shun wouldn’t smell the alcohol on him.

Wei Di pressed further. “Sir, don’t you remember anything at all? You changed yourself.”

Last night, after swallowing the hangover pill, Chi Gui had an inexplicable obsession. Without a word, he rushed into the bathroom.

Wei Di didn’t dare stop his boss, but he was also worried that his boss might have an accident alone in the bathroom. So, anxiously, he waited outside.

Fortunately, everything turned out fine.

Chi Gui was drunk, but his movements weren’t at all off-kilter. He changed clothes by himself and lay down on the bed.

Wei Di, not daring to disturb his rest, then withdrew.

Chi Gui indeed had no memory of it.

His alcohol tolerance wasn’t particularly good, but he had never been so drunk that he blacked out completely. This was a first.

He pressed one hand against his still-pounding temple, and his drooping gaze caught sight of the empty glass in his hand. “Did you prepare this honey water? I didn’t disturb Jing Shun’s rest when I got back last night, did I?”

Wei Di truthfully reported what had happened after returning home the previous night, then said, “I didn’t prepare this water. Maybe the housekeeper did?”

“Got it.”

Chi Gui set the empty glass back on the bedside table. “I’ll go wash up. You head downstairs first.”

Wei Di replied, “Alright.”

Chi Gui dragged his heavy footsteps into the bathroom. Hot water poured down, summoning the soberness and rationality he needed.

He felt as if he had forgotten something, but after thinking for a long time, he came up with nothing.

Chi Gui quickly tidied himself up and went downstairs.

On the first floor, there was no sign of Jing Shun. Instead, the sound of Gou Bao barking came from the front yard.

Chi Gui’s stomach was uncomfortable, and he didn’t feel like eating brunch for now.

He walked quickly toward the barking, reaching the entrance just as Jing Shun was returning on his wheelchair.

Their eyes met.

Jing Shun calmly met his gaze. “You’re awake?”

“Yeah.”

Chi Gui noticed the dessert box on his lap. “From Yu Zhen?”

Jing Shun replied, “Yes. He knew I was going back to Haisi today, so he made this and sent it over.”

Chi Gui was about to say something else when Jing Shun spoke first. “Can you move aside? I need to go in.”

His tone was very steady, with an indescribable sense of politeness.

Chi Gui stepped aside to let him pass, then asked, “Jing Shun, did I disturb you last night?”

“…”

Jing Shun’s wheelchair stopped, and he only spoke with his back to Chi Gui. “No.”

Then he called, “Gou Bao, come here!”

Gou Bao, still lazing on the lawn at the entrance, raced over at his call.

Jing Shun bent down to rub the dog’s head, then asked Chi Gui, “What time are we leaving for the airport?”

Chi Gui furrowed his brows slightly, almost imperceptibly. “Twelve.”

Jing Shun nodded. “Then there’s still time. I’ll go upstairs and rest a little more.”

Since he said so, Chi Gui could only nod. “Alright.”

The elevator door closed off the figures of the man and the dog.

Chi Gui felt that Jing Shun’s attitude was a bit unusual, but he couldn’t quite say what was strange. The dream and reality overlapped but differed, leaving his heart unsettled.

Just then, the housekeeper came out of the kitchen. “Mr. Chi, good morning. What would you like to eat?”

Chi Gui snapped back to reality. “That cup of honey water in my room—did you put it there?”

The housekeeper shook his head. “No.”

“…”

Hearing that reply, Chi Gui suddenly felt he had a lead.

Not Wei Di, not the housekeeper—so it must have been Jing Shun who brought the honey water?

He wouldn’t have done something inappropriate while drunk last night, would he, losing control of himself and offending the other?

Just thinking about that possibility made Chi Gui’s regret multiply.

…

Back in his room, Jing Shun let out a sigh of relief.

Gou Bao, sensing his owner’s low spirits, quickly licked his hand to soothe him. “Woo…”

“It’s okay, I’m fine.”

Jing Shun stroked Gou Bao’s head, but his thoughts couldn’t help drifting—

After witnessing Chi Gui’s drunken, heartfelt outpouring the night before, it was actually Jing Shun who was truly flustered.

He didn’t know how to face this “fragment of truth” that had suddenly been revealed. All he could do was push Chi Gui away with all his might, hastily cover him with the blanket, and then flee in panic.

That night, Jing Shun lay awake until dawn.

He tried to adjust his emotions, finding countless reasons to convince himself.

For example, his feelings toward Chi Gui weren’t really affection—just a false sense of dependency born from years of loneliness.

Or for example, he and Chi Gui were never from the same world; he shouldn’t even entertain the possibility of developing beyond their agreement.

Chi Gui was wonderful, but he couldn’t be greedy, couldn’t rely on him, couldn’t like him. Instead, he should maintain the rationality and intention from the very beginning—

Nothing was more important than his legs and his future career. When the agreement expired next year, they would go their separate ways.

Just as he was thinking, his phone vibrated with a message.

Jing Shun opened it and saw it was from Yu Xiuzhu:

“Xiao Jing, are you coming back from Aoshi today? The celebration banquet for ‘True Job’ is set for this Friday. Will you attend?”

“…”

Friday? That was still doable.

Jing Shun typed his reply: “Yeah, I’m heading back today. I want to go.”

Yu Xiuzhu replied, “Alright, I’ll let Sister Yin know. By the way, Fu Changting’s film company just contacted me.”

Besides his achievements in TV dramas, Fu Changting had also invested in and established a film company, which had been developing quite well in the past two years.

Jing Shun was surprised. “What do they want from you? What’s up?”

Yu Xiuzhu took the chance to explain it all. “They were asking about your film schedule. They said there’s a film role that suits you perfectly.”

Jing Shun pressed further. “A role?”

Yu Xiuzhu’s messages continued. “We should be able to meet Fu Changting at the celebration banquet on Friday. We can ask for more details then?”

Was this a sign?

After cutting off the budding feelings he shouldn’t have had, his career was suddenly picking up again.

Jing Shun couldn’t help but associate this with a joke he remembered, and his low spirits finally lifted a little. “Okay.”