Chapter 65#

Whether the problem is big or not, it seems Yan Zishu has no way to deal with it, so he simply pretends there is no problem.

Zeng Zhanpeng swore that he was really loyal enough and didn’t reveal anything intentionally; he just ran into the other party while on a business trip to Dongcheng.

It was Fu Jinchi who had been paranoid and nitpicking words, and it seemed he had also gotten wind of it from elsewhere.

This really couldn’t be blamed on Zeng Zhanpeng. In fact, it would be exposed sooner or later.

After hanging up the phone, Yan Zishu thought about whether it was necessary to hide. The answer was absolutely not necessary.

Fu Jinchi had access to everything, while he himself didn’t even have enough money. The disparity was huge, and even if he wanted to hide, he was powerless.

To tell a joke, when he was just discharged from the hospital, according to the doctor’s orders, he couldn’t even lift heavy objects weighing more than 4 kilograms.

He didn’t know if he could lift a little more now, as he hadn’t dared to try.

The only thing certain was that he couldn’t afford to toss about blindly.

Having said that, Yan Zishu was still a little restless. Not for anything else, but with Fu Jinchi’s personality, it was simply impossible to predict his reaction or whether he would come looking for him. It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop upstairs, not knowing when it would land.

Zeng Zhanpeng also professed ignorance about everything and didn’t see any excessive reaction from Fu Jinchi. After all, they only met occasionally.

Yan Zishu touched the whistle at the head of the bed, gave up worrying about things that hadn’t happened yet, turned off the light, and went to sleep.

So let’s leave it at that for now.

Two days later was Saturday, the day Zeng Peirong and the fellowship members came to attend the retreat.

They took the ferry over early in the morning and went directly to St. John’s Monastery to happily do their own thing. The activities were arranged in an orderly manner, and they wouldn’t be free until the evening. Zeng Peirong took the time to send a message, inviting Yan Zishu to have dinner together.

Yan Zishu readily agreed.

For him, however, this day didn’t go smoothly from the start.

During his morning walk, he decided to go up the mountain. But because he took a shortcut and left the familiar routes, he accidentally got lost halfway up the mountain. Along the way, he couldn’t even see ordinary residential buildings, and couldn’t find anyone to ask for directions. Passing through cemeteries and transformer boxes, passing through abandoned fields, the further he went, the creepier it became. Unknowingly, he had gone from the west side of the island to the east side.

Actually, the mountain wasn’t high and there was no danger, so he could find his way down somehow. When some ordinary tourists climbed the mountain, they might also take a wrong turn. It was just a bit unlucky and would cost more legwork.

But Yan Zishu had poor physical strength and couldn’t walk for long. Moreover, seeing that the sky seemed overcast, he feared it would be a bit troublesome if he got caught in the rain.

Fortunately, in the end, he successfully returned to the main road by the sea. The mountain exit he found led directly near the ferry pier. As soon as he arrived at the commercial area, the scene changed suddenly. Tourists were weaving through, the bustle hit him in the face, and even the sunlight seemed brighter.

Although it had entered autumn by the calendar month, the breath of summer wouldn’t leave this southern island until the end of the year.

Shigu Island is the liveliest of Hong Kong’s outlying islands, retaining the primitive style of a small fishing village. Although it won’t see scenes of crowds crossing the river like many famous scenic spots, tourists of various skin colors and attire will always stream out of the ferry endlessly.

Because Yan Zishu was thirsty, he bought a cup of iced lemon tea. Just after taking a sip, he turned around and bumped into someone, unfortunately spilling it all over himself.

It was a tall, handsome man who stood too close to Yan Zishu. So both sides should be responsible.

Yan Zishu looked up, stunned for a long while, then lowered his head and apologized: “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” (Cantonese)

The other party said nothing, locking his complex and indescribable gaze firmly on him, heavy as if it had substance.

As if Yan Zishu was really some major wanted criminal who could be caught immediately in exchange for a 500,000 reward.

Instead, a beautiful woman next to him reacted and immediately said: “No, no, it’s… sorry for bumping into you.”

“Are you tourists from the mainland?” Yan Zishu smiled and changed his accent. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll just go back and change my clothes.”

He showed no reluctance and his face didn’t change color. Pulling at the clothes stained with a patch of drink, he politely indicated that he needed to leave.

“Wait!” The woman turned her head to look at the gloomy man and called out to him bracingly, “You, um, wait a moment?”

*

Lily was glad she wore sunglasses so she could maintain a natural smile on her face. What on earth is this situation? How should I act?

Her mind raced through the information she had inquired from the doctor. Was there any mention that the patient Yan Zishu had amnesia? No, but he did seem to have a concussion… And during his stay in Hong Kong, he never mentioned his previous identity.

So could it be amnesia without knowing it? Or was it just not written in the medical records?

No, the point is, what to do now?

Lily only knew that the night before yesterday, she was suddenly dragged on a business trip by the boss, rushing to catch the nearest flight directly to Hong Kong. But she didn’t complain. After all, there was finally news about the person who was said to have been missing for half a year. She should be considerate of the boss’s mood and obsession.

Fu Jinchi had connections in Hong Kong, so naturally, he immediately investigated William YAN’s rescue experience and hospitalization information clearly.

Not to mention Fu Jinchi, even the outsider Lily had a thrill of disbelief that the dust had finally settled.

But after landing, Fu Jinchi seemed to have a fear of approaching his hometown. Instead of rushing to find the person, he personally found the attending doctor at the time to confirm it again, hesitated in the hotel for a night, and didn’t take the ferry to Shigu Island until today.

The person, seen, alive.

At this moment, facing Yan Zishu’s strange gaze, Lily was afraid that the boss’s mental state was on the verge of losing control.

Fu Jinchi was Fu Jinchi after all. He closed his eyes, exhaled, and when he looked at Yan Zishu again, his face had put on a calm and frivolous smile again: “Sorry, this must be my fault.” His voice was low, “How about this, I’ll buy you another piece of clothing as compensation.”

With an irresistible posture, he lightly pushed the stunned Yan Zishu towards the souvenir shop on the commercial street.

Regarding his toughness, Yan Zishu seemed to want to show refusal and subconsciously looked back at Lily.

Lily finally came to her senses and decisively turned to check in at the hotel booked on the island.

Silly, wasn’t she? Why should she worry about what to do? Isn’t that the boss’s business?

Not far from the ferry pier, ten minutes away is the seaside bathing beach, where there are partitions for tourists to change clothes.

Yan Zishu put on the newly bought souvenir T-shirt with a sampan boat printed on the chest. It was loose and baggy, making him look even thinner and weaker. Before, his thinness was muscular, but now he was reduced to a skeleton, revealing the haggardness and pallor of someone recovering from a serious illness.

Pushing open the door, Fu Jinchi still blocked the doorway, holding half a cup of iced lemon tea in his hand. His expression was like a prodigal flirting, but his behavior was like guarding a prisoner, wary of him escaping and disappearing at any time.

Yan Zishu thought he really overestimated himself. As if he could still engage in the activity of running now.

Fu Jinchi’s sinister gaze branded him hotly, and his Adam’s apple rolled: “A bit ill-fitting?”

Yan Zishu turned his face away, avoiding eye contact with him: “It’s okay. These clothes are all large size.”

The situation turned into him holding dirty clothes and walking along the coastline towards the sanatorium, with Fu Jinchi following unhurriedly behind.

Fu Jinchi was always half a step behind Yan Zishu, but guarded strictly like a superb hunter, absolutely not allowing the prey to escape control. Leaving the range of the seaside bathing beach, the density of tourists was gradually diluted. Before long, the main road by the sea had become quiet and deserted.

Finally, Yan Zishu tiredly picked a bench in a shaded place by the roadside and sat down.

Fu Jinchi threw the cup into the trash can, sat down closely next to him, and stretched out his arm, almost taking him into his arms.

Yan Zishu sighed: “I think we don’t need to speak too clearly. If someone would rather pretend to have amnesia than acknowledge each other with a headache and tears, should you consider going back consciously?” He called out “Mr. Fu” lukewarmly.

This address was like rewinding to the days of playing word games before.

Fu Jinchi was just silent, saying nothing.

Yan Zishu said again: “Why don’t you talk? What do you think?”

Fu Jinchi suddenly turned sideways and hugged him tightly. Instantly, a huge aura of despair enveloped Yan Zishu.

But his arms were shaking terribly, and even Yan Zishu could clearly feel that Fu Jinchi’s entire body was trembling.

He wanted to raise his hand to pat the other’s back, but was immediately held firmly, unable to struggle.

Fu Jinchi buried his face in the crook of his neck. For a long time, Yan Zishu only felt a coldness on his shoulder.

He fell silent, witnessing for the first time that a person like Fu Jinchi could also have tears.

Just like a person like Yan Zishu could also have feelings.

Although there was only a meager cup, he gave this cup unreservedly to one person.

Yan Zishu looked away. His heart, which was originally without fluctuations, was unexpectedly tinged with a bit of sadness.

The waves from the distance crashed against the reefs. Fu Jinchi’s eyes were red, and he finally spoke in a low and hoarse voice: “You…”

Holding the warm body in his arms, Fu Jinchi’s heart pounded wildly. This was truly a dream that terrified him.

He had dreamed of such scenes too many times. When would he wake up this time?

The moment he saw Yan Zishu from a distance just now, he almost completely lost his reason, only wanting to… do what to him?

Take him away, lock him up, stick him to his chest, cover him in a glass jar, never let him suffer any wind or rain again, never let anyone see him again, let him belong only to himself, and only see himself.

Fu Jinchi’s chest was filled with these restless and dark thoughts.

But he knew this was impossible to implement. He didn’t dare, nor could he bear to.

Just seeing Yan Zishu still able to talk to him like this made him humble and cautious.

Fu Jinchi closed his eyes: “You are still alive.”

Yan Zishu smiled and hummed “Mmh”.

Being held by Fu Jinchi like this, if it was just holding, it couldn’t be considered resistance. After all, there had been more intimate relationships. Yan Zishu was familiar with both Fu Jinchi’s scent and his embrace; what was strange was just him as a person.

After a moment, Fu Jinchi spoke again: “I’ve been looking for you. Who knew you were hiding here.”

“Really? Not really hiding,” Yan Zishu said. “Just that after being rescued, I was sent directly to Hong Kong.”

“You didn’t hide, it was my wishful thinking, right?” Fu Jinchi sneered. “If it weren’t for that kid surnamed Zeng, you could have kept it from me for so long… Fine, okay, you guys are really capable. Yan Zishu, can you tell me what exactly you want to do?”

Fu Jinchi felt like a bottle of five flavors had been overturned in his heart. For a moment, all kinds of feelings were in his heart: pain, hatred, and fear.

Obviously, he had so many connections in Hong Kong, but like he had lost his mind, he had no clue about Yan Zishu’s whereabouts. Just thinking that when he was looking for a needle in a haystack with despair, he didn’t know that he was just a line away, Fu Jinchi wanted to gnash his teeth.

But what could he hate? He couldn’t hate Yan Zishu, and hating himself was useless.

He could only hate so much wasted time.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t tell me, I don’t care.” Fu Jinchi suddenly became fierce and tightened his arms. “Whether you want to or not, I will take you back this time. If you don’t go, I will tie you up and take you, and never let you come out to meet people again. Do you want to try?”

“Just because you are always like this,” Yan Zishu said.

“What?” Fu Jinchi paused.

“I didn’t pretend not to know you on purpose. I was just stunned for a moment and didn’t know how to react.” Yan Zishu thought about it and felt it was very clumsy. “But what I’m afraid of is that you are always so extreme. As soon as you speak, I feel that the life that made me terrified in the past has returned. I would rather never see you again and get rid of that state, but you insist on making me recall it all.”

His voice was very light, as if to say accusatory words to avoid too much lethality.

But Fu Jinchi still felt like he was stabbed in the heart, tongue-tied, unable to squeeze out a word—