June 09, 2023 by Wyrd
Xu Ze tilted his head, his eyes innocent yet cruel. “Really?”
Ruan Qing bit his lower lip and nodded under Xu Ze’s gaze.
He had no choice now, besides nodding. Because there’s no way Xu Ze was joking with him.
Xu Ze revealed a bright smile. “So, can you kiss me now?”
Ruan Qing hesitated for a moment and nodded again.
Seeing his foolish younger brother nodding, Xu Ze happily leaned his head closer once again and stared straight at his foolish brother’s lips.
Ruan Qing looked at the enlarged, exquisite and handsome face that was within reach, as well as someone’s aggressive gaze. He slightly pursed his lips and showed a somewhat shy expression. “Brother Ze, can you... close your eyes first?”
“I... I’m shy...”
Xu Ze blinked and obediently closed his eyes. His beautiful face was filled with anticipation.
Ruan Qing reached into his slanted shoulder bag, but when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure from the corner of his eye, he changed his focus.
He slowly leaned towards Xu Ze’s face, as if he was really going to kiss him.
The distance between the two was so close.
Close enough for Xu Ze to feel his foolish brother’s breath.
He inexplicably became nervous, even holding his breath. A secret excitement and anticipation surged in his heart.
He tried hard to restrain his excitement and silently waited for his foolish brother’s kiss.
However, just a second before Ruan Qing leaned in for the kiss, someone embraced him from behind, and he fell into a strong embrace.
That person also turned Ruan Qing around and viciously kicked Xu Ze.
Things happened too quickly, and Xu Ze was kicked squarely because he had his eyes closed.
He was sent flying and crashed into a nearby wall, making a loud noise.
Xu Ze fell to the ground and groaned, “Ugh...”
Ji Yan held onto Ruan Qing, expressionless, as he watched the person getting up from the ground. The killing intent in his eyes seemed to materialize, and his tone carried a bone-chilling coldness. “You’ve grown wings, daring to even touch your stepmother.”
Xu Ze climbed to his feet, hearing the familiar voice. He sat on the ground and looked at Ji Yan, tilting his head. “Step...mother?”
Xu Ze looked at Ruan Qing, who was being held, and then realized who Ji Yan was referring to as his stepmother. Immediately, he unhappily retorted in a loud voice, “He’s not my stepmother; he’s my younger brother.”
Ji Yan sneered and spoke without courtesy, “Younger brother? Your mother died a long time ago. Where did you get a younger brother from?”
Xu Ze coldly looked at Ji Yan’s hand holding the young boy, his eyes filled with killing intent, and spoke slowly, emphasizing each word. “He is my younger brother.”
He was his target, and he was also his younger brother.
He belonged to him, and no one could take him away.
Ji Yan laughed in anger, looking down from a higher position, his tone filled with disdain. “Based on what? Are you even worthy?”
Xu Ze seemed to have thought of something, ran his hand through his hair, revealing a brilliant smile. “Senior Ji, could it be that you’re jealous of me?”
Ji Yan: “...Jealous of you? What for?”
“Jealous of my youth, jealous that I look like an older brother to my younger brother.” Xu Ze spoke as if it were a matter of course, his tone filled with pride. “You’re already an old fart who can’t be matched to my younger brother.”
Ji Yan scoffed, full of mockery. “Don’t tell me you think you’re the only one he calls ‘older brother’?”
Ruan Qing stayed quiet on the side, trying to diminish his presence.
However, both of them looked at him.
Ruan Qing: “...”
Ruan Qing looked at Xu Ze on the ground, not directly answering, but speaking vaguely. “...Brother Ze really does look... like the older brother from the neighbor’s family when I was a child.”
Who would remember what the neighbor’s child looked like when they were young, let alone the fact that Ruan Qing was not really from this place?
“Who doesn’t have a neighbor? As long as you say so, there won’t be any problems. As for the rest, let others imagine it.”
Ji Yan’s face completely darkened as he found Xu Ze’s radiant smile extremely annoying. To make matters worse, Xu Ze poured fuel on the fire, saying, “Senior Ji, don’t worry. From now on, you’ll be my little brother’s father. My brother and I will take care of you in your old age.”
Ji Yan’s mouth twitched and coldly retorted, “You merely look like that neighborhood brother, but that’s all. In the end, you’re just a replaceable figure. Only a brainless fool like you would take pleasure in it.”
It’s unclear whether Xu Ze disliked being called a replacement or being called a fool, but his face turned gloomy, and he quickly launched an attack on Ji Yan.
Ji Yan released Ruan Qing, and the two of them instantly started fighting.
However, it seemed that both of them were aware that they were in a public place and didn’t go too far with their fight. They didn’t use any weapons either.
Many people around noticed the fight between the two, perhaps because both of them displayed some skill, resembling a sparring match between martial artists. Nobody called the police, and they gathered around to watch.
Of course, some people used the excuse of watching the fight to secretly observe the exquisite young boy.
Ruan Qing ignored those gazes and stood silently on the side, watching the two of them fight.
Suddenly, the phone in his bag vibrated.
Ruan Qing glanced at the two people fighting, discreetly took out his phone, and checked it.
It was a text message.
[The arrangement is complete, but we can only hold out until twelve o’clock. See you there.]
The sender was still the unknown contact who informed him of the situation about the horror livestream room.
Twelve o’clock...
It was already half-past eleven.
The hospital where Wen Li was located wasn’t far from here. He had more than enough time to get there in half an hour.
But the problem was that he couldn’t leave right now.
Those two people didn’t forget to pay attention to him, even during their fight.
Perhaps because they had lost him before, it caused them to be extra cautious no matter what they did.
Ruan Qing discreetly glanced around, trying to find an opportunity, but his gaze suddenly froze when it swept across a certain spot.
Su... Xiaozhen?
At that moment, Su Xiaozhen was in a nearby corner. When she saw the young boy looking at her, she discreetly waved her hand and then gestured towards a nearby car, signaling something to the young boy.
Ruan Qing looked at the main street and then glanced at the two people still fighting. He nodded.
He then subtly moved a few steps towards the outer edge of the crowd on the main road, pretending to casually watch the fight.
Soon, a taxi appeared on the street and slowly approached from the left side.
As the taxi passed through the crowd, it suddenly slowed down, as if it had also been drawn in by the surrounding people.
When the car reached a certain speed, a person got out of the back seat and quickly grabbed the young boy who was watching. They swiftly boarded the car.
The door was quickly closed, and the driver pressed the accelerator to the maximum, instantly disappearing from sight.
The speed of the abduction was clearly aimed at the young boy.
Ji Yan and Xu Ze couldn’t intercept in time. They exchanged a glance and chased after the car in the direction it was heading, which was soon out of sight.
After getting into the car, Ruan Qing turned his head and looked at the two who had been left behind. Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Are you okay?” Su Xiaozhen was also sitting in the back seat. Her expression was filled with concern as she reached out her hand, wanting to check if the young boy was injured.
Ruan Qing blocked her hand with his own and shook his head slightly. “I’m fine, thank you.”
Su Xiaozhen shook her head, her tone filled with gratitude. “I should be the one thanking you. If it weren’t for you, I would have died three times.”
Ruan Qing hadn’t rested for a long time. He leaned back in his seat, looking somewhat exhausted, with half-closed eyes. “It’s nothing. Anyone else would have saved you,” he said.
Su Xiaozhen had something else to say, but when she saw the weary look on his face, she felt a pang of heartache. “You should rest for a while. I’ll call you when we reach the hospital.”
“Mm, thank you.” Ruan Qing closed his eyes after speaking.
In reality, his body had long been unable to bear it. The prolonged physical exertion, as well as the prolonged mental strain, made every cell in his body seem to be on the verge of a strike, and even his brain was throbbing with pain.
Su Xiaozhen looked at the handsome young boy and even her breathing softened, afraid of disturbing him.
The taxi was not lit inside, and occasionally the lights from the roadside would shine in, casting a delicate glow on the young boy’s face.
Light and darkness intertwined, seeming like a dream.
With his eyes closed, the coquettishness brought by his eyes faded away, revealing a touch of coldness and gentleness, giving people a feeling as if they were bathed in sunlight, making them unable to resist longing.
As if gentleness encompassed the whole world.
The passage of time was tranquil, but that was all.
At this moment, Su Xiaozhen seemed enchanted. She reached out her hand, seemingly wanting to touch the young boy’s face.
But she seemed afraid of disturbing him and ultimately retracted her extended hand, and just silently watched him.
Occasionally, light and shadow seeped through the window, faintly illuminating the morbid infatuation in her eyes.
The car quickly arrived at the hospital.
When the car began to decelerate, Ruan Qing opened his eyes.
Then he glanced at the hospital building.
Even at night, the hospital was still bustling with people, so all the building lights were on. However, they didn’t give off a bright feeling but instead created a sense of strangeness.
It was as if danger and ominousness permeated everywhere.
Ruan Qing looked at Su Xiaozhen and kindly advised, “Find a place to hide. Just get through tonight.”
Su Xiaozhen shook her head and spoke firmly, “I’ll go with you.”
Ruan Qing didn’t try to persuade her anymore. He opened the car door and got out.
With time being limited, Ruan Qing couldn’t afford any delay. He walked briskly into the hospital building, with Su Xiaozhen following closely behind.
June 09, 2023 by Wyrd
Xu Ze tilted his head, his eyes innocent yet cruel. “Really?”
Ruan Qing bit his lower lip and nodded under Xu Ze’s gaze.
He had no choice now, besides nodding. Because there’s no way Xu Ze was joking with him.
Xu Ze revealed a bright smile. “So, can you kiss me now?”
Ruan Qing hesitated for a moment and nodded again.
Seeing his foolish younger brother nodding, Xu Ze happily leaned his head closer once again and stared straight at his foolish brother’s lips.
Ruan Qing looked at the enlarged, exquisite and handsome face that was within reach, as well as someone’s aggressive gaze. He slightly pursed his lips and showed a somewhat shy expression. “Brother Ze, can you... close your eyes first?”
“I... I’m shy...”
Xu Ze blinked and obediently closed his eyes. His beautiful face was filled with anticipation.
Ruan Qing reached into his slanted shoulder bag, but when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure from the corner of his eye, he changed his focus.
He slowly leaned towards Xu Ze’s face, as if he was really going to kiss him.
The distance between the two was so close.
Close enough for Xu Ze to feel his foolish brother’s breath.
He inexplicably became nervous, even holding his breath. A secret excitement and anticipation surged in his heart.
He tried hard to restrain his excitement and silently waited for his foolish brother’s kiss.
However, just a second before Ruan Qing leaned in for the kiss, someone embraced him from behind, and he fell into a strong embrace.
That person also turned Ruan Qing around and viciously kicked Xu Ze.
Things happened too quickly, and Xu Ze was kicked squarely because he had his eyes closed.
He was sent flying and crashed into a nearby wall, making a loud noise.
Xu Ze fell to the ground and groaned, “Ugh...”
Ji Yan held onto Ruan Qing, expressionless, as he watched the person getting up from the ground. The killing intent in his eyes seemed to materialize, and his tone carried a bone-chilling coldness. “You’ve grown wings, daring to even touch your stepmother.”
Xu Ze climbed to his feet, hearing the familiar voice. He sat on the ground and looked at Ji Yan, tilting his head. “Step...mother?”
Xu Ze looked at Ruan Qing, who was being held, and then realized who Ji Yan was referring to as his stepmother. Immediately, he unhappily retorted in a loud voice, “He’s not my stepmother; he’s my younger brother.”
Ji Yan sneered and spoke without courtesy, “Younger brother? Your mother died a long time ago. Where did you get a younger brother from?”
Xu Ze coldly looked at Ji Yan’s hand holding the young boy, his eyes filled with killing intent, and spoke slowly, emphasizing each word. “He is my younger brother.”
He was his target, and he was also his younger brother.
He belonged to him, and no one could take him away.
Ji Yan laughed in anger, looking down from a higher position, his tone filled with disdain. “Based on what? Are you even worthy?”
Xu Ze seemed to have thought of something, ran his hand through his hair, revealing a brilliant smile. “Senior Ji, could it be that you’re jealous of me?”
Ji Yan: “...Jealous of you? What for?”
“Jealous of my youth, jealous that I look like an older brother to my younger brother.” Xu Ze spoke as if it were a matter of course, his tone filled with pride. “You’re already an old fart who can’t be matched to my younger brother.”
Ji Yan scoffed, full of mockery. “Don’t tell me you think you’re the only one he calls ‘older brother’?”
Ruan Qing stayed quiet on the side, trying to diminish his presence.
However, both of them looked at him.
Ruan Qing: “...”
Ruan Qing looked at Xu Ze on the ground, not directly answering, but speaking vaguely. “...Brother Ze really does look... like the older brother from the neighbor’s family when I was a child.”
Who would remember what the neighbor’s child looked like when they were young, let alone the fact that Ruan Qing was not really from this place?
“Who doesn’t have a neighbor? As long as you say so, there won’t be any problems. As for the rest, let others imagine it.”
Ji Yan’s face completely darkened as he found Xu Ze’s radiant smile extremely annoying. To make matters worse, Xu Ze poured fuel on the fire, saying, “Senior Ji, don’t worry. From now on, you’ll be my little brother’s father. My brother and I will take care of you in your old age.”
Ji Yan’s mouth twitched and coldly retorted, “You merely look like that neighborhood brother, but that’s all. In the end, you’re just a replaceable figure. Only a brainless fool like you would take pleasure in it.”
It’s unclear whether Xu Ze disliked being called a replacement or being called a fool, but his face turned gloomy, and he quickly launched an attack on Ji Yan.
Ji Yan released Ruan Qing, and the two of them instantly started fighting.
However, it seemed that both of them were aware that they were in a public place and didn’t go too far with their fight. They didn’t use any weapons either.
Many people around noticed the fight between the two, perhaps because both of them displayed some skill, resembling a sparring match between martial artists. Nobody called the police, and they gathered around to watch.
Of course, some people used the excuse of watching the fight to secretly observe the exquisite young boy.
Ruan Qing ignored those gazes and stood silently on the side, watching the two of them fight.
Suddenly, the phone in his bag vibrated.
Ruan Qing glanced at the two people fighting, discreetly took out his phone, and checked it.
It was a text message.
[The arrangement is complete, but we can only hold out until twelve o’clock. See you there.]
The sender was still the unknown contact who informed him of the situation about the horror livestream room.
Twelve o’clock...
It was already half-past eleven.
The hospital where Wen Li was located wasn’t far from here. He had more than enough time to get there in half an hour.
But the problem was that he couldn’t leave right now.
Those two people didn’t forget to pay attention to him, even during their fight.
Perhaps because they had lost him before, it caused them to be extra cautious no matter what they did.
Ruan Qing discreetly glanced around, trying to find an opportunity, but his gaze suddenly froze when it swept across a certain spot.
Su... Xiaozhen?
At that moment, Su Xiaozhen was in a nearby corner. When she saw the young boy looking at her, she discreetly waved her hand and then gestured towards a nearby car, signaling something to the young boy.
Ruan Qing looked at the main street and then glanced at the two people still fighting. He nodded.
He then subtly moved a few steps towards the outer edge of the crowd on the main road, pretending to casually watch the fight.
Soon, a taxi appeared on the street and slowly approached from the left side.
As the taxi passed through the crowd, it suddenly slowed down, as if it had also been drawn in by the surrounding people.
When the car reached a certain speed, a person got out of the back seat and quickly grabbed the young boy who was watching. They swiftly boarded the car.
The door was quickly closed, and the driver pressed the accelerator to the maximum, instantly disappearing from sight.
The speed of the abduction was clearly aimed at the young boy.
Ji Yan and Xu Ze couldn’t intercept in time. They exchanged a glance and chased after the car in the direction it was heading, which was soon out of sight.
After getting into the car, Ruan Qing turned his head and looked at the two who had been left behind. Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Are you okay?” Su Xiaozhen was also sitting in the back seat. Her expression was filled with concern as she reached out her hand, wanting to check if the young boy was injured.
Ruan Qing blocked her hand with his own and shook his head slightly. “I’m fine, thank you.”
Su Xiaozhen shook her head, her tone filled with gratitude. “I should be the one thanking you. If it weren’t for you, I would have died three times.”
Ruan Qing hadn’t rested for a long time. He leaned back in his seat, looking somewhat exhausted, with half-closed eyes. “It’s nothing. Anyone else would have saved you,” he said.
Su Xiaozhen had something else to say, but when she saw the weary look on his face, she felt a pang of heartache. “You should rest for a while. I’ll call you when we reach the hospital.”
“Mm, thank you.” Ruan Qing closed his eyes after speaking.
In reality, his body had long been unable to bear it. The prolonged physical exertion, as well as the prolonged mental strain, made every cell in his body seem to be on the verge of a strike, and even his brain was throbbing with pain.
Su Xiaozhen looked at the handsome young boy and even her breathing softened, afraid of disturbing him.
The taxi was not lit inside, and occasionally the lights from the roadside would shine in, casting a delicate glow on the young boy’s face.
Light and darkness intertwined, seeming like a dream.
With his eyes closed, the coquettishness brought by his eyes faded away, revealing a touch of coldness and gentleness, giving people a feeling as if they were bathed in sunlight, making them unable to resist longing.
As if gentleness encompassed the whole world.
The passage of time was tranquil, but that was all.
At this moment, Su Xiaozhen seemed enchanted. She reached out her hand, seemingly wanting to touch the young boy’s face.
But she seemed afraid of disturbing him and ultimately retracted her extended hand, and just silently watched him.
Occasionally, light and shadow seeped through the window, faintly illuminating the morbid infatuation in her eyes.
The car quickly arrived at the hospital.
When the car began to decelerate, Ruan Qing opened his eyes.
Then he glanced at the hospital building.
Even at night, the hospital was still bustling with people, so all the building lights were on. However, they didn’t give off a bright feeling but instead created a sense of strangeness.
It was as if danger and ominousness permeated everywhere.
Ruan Qing looked at Su Xiaozhen and kindly advised, “Find a place to hide. Just get through tonight.”
Su Xiaozhen shook her head and spoke firmly, “I’ll go with you.”
Ruan Qing didn’t try to persuade her anymore. He opened the car door and got out.
With time being limited, Ruan Qing couldn’t afford any delay. He walked briskly into the hospital building, with Su Xiaozhen following closely behind.
