Refuse to Confess (42)

When Yi Zhongshen heard what Bo Xiyun said, he froze for a moment.

It was the kind of pause that was so evident that even his posture seemed to stiffen momentarily.

A silence fell over the room.

After a while, Bo Xiyun softly continued, "I think you're right, Senior."

He was referring to what Yi Zhongshen had just said about taking things at a comfortable pace.

"So, I think," Bo Xiyun said earnestly, "the next step might be for me to express myself."

To tell Yi Zhongshen.

That he had never disliked him.

That's why Bo Xiyun brought up this matter.

Bo Xiyun had always been an extremely perceptive individual.

Perceptive to an extreme extent.

Even teachers found it hard to contend with him.

And so, after a short while, Bo Xiyun finally heard Yi Zhongshen's voice.

"…Yes."

Yi Zhongshen's expression remained unchanged, and he shifted his gaze directly to Bo Xiyun's eyes, without flinching or showing any emotion on his handsome face.

However, hearing Yi Zhongshen's response did bring some relief to Bo Xiyun.

He had been afraid that senior wouldn't want to address this matter.

Thankfully, senior didn't outright reject it, and Bo Xiyun had finally managed to explain himself.

With this weight off his chest, Bo Xiyun's expression brightened considerably.

Yi Zhongshen finally turned his gaze back, though his expression still carried a hint of stiffness and coldness.

After a long while, he finally seemed ready to say something. However, before Yi Zhongshen could speak, Gu Sheng, who had gone to answer the phone, returned.

"Mom and Dad, along with Uncle, might be back a bit later," Gu Sheng said, completely oblivious to his friend's unusual demeanor.

He turned to Bo Xiyun and continued, "Grandma wants to come home for the New Year, and they're preparing things for her to use once she's discharged from the hospital."

Bo Xiyun's attention was immediately drawn by Gu Sheng's words, and he looked surprised.

"Can she be discharged? Will it affect her recovery?"

Gu Sheng responded, "The doctor said it's not a problem. There will also be caregivers to take care of her when she's back home."

Grandma Gu had a chronic lung condition that required long-term care, but it wasn't an acute illness.

For elderly people, sometimes their spirits recovering can be even more effective than medication and supplementation.

"It's actually New Year's Eve today, so the timing is quite fortunate," Gu Sheng mused.

Although it was a bit rushed, one couldn't deny that the timing was indeed quite fortunate. They were truly experiencing a reunion during this festive season.

"Today is already quite late, and Grandma is resting at the hospital for the night. We'll pick her up tomorrow."

Bo Xiyun nodded, saying, "Okay."

After discussing this matter, Gu Sheng seemed to have something else to say, but he hesitated.

Bo Xiyun noticed his hesitation and asked, "What's wrong?"

Gu Sheng glanced at Yi Zhongshen before responding, "There's something else I want to talk to you about, Xiyun."

Yi Zhongshen had already regained his composure, and he immediately sensed the direction of Gu Sheng's thoughts.

"About the last name?" Yi Zhongshen asked.

"..." Gu Sheng took a deep breath and nodded, "Yes."

He led the two to the sofa.

"Please have a seat first. This matter might take some time to explain."

Although this matter was only recently confirmed through a phone call with Gu Sheng, there had been some clues discovered before that.

Yi Zhongshen had also provided quite a bit of assistance in uncovering these details.

After discussing among the family members, they decided not to have the adults talk to Bo Xiyun about this matter, but chose to have Gu Sheng, who was more familiar with Bo Xiyun, convey the information. They wanted to minimize the pressure on the child and ensure he felt comfortable.

With Yi Zhongshen present at that moment, Gu Sheng took advantage of the familiar and reassuring atmosphere to discuss this matter.

"Do you know why your last name is Bo?" Gu Sheng suddenly brought up the topic, causing Bo Xiyun to pause before responding.

"Isn't it because of the Liu family?"

The Liu family had bought Bo Xiyun and used the identity of a distant deceased relative to falsify his household registration information. Because that distant relative had the last name "Bo," Bo Xiyun's last name was also changed to "Bo."

Gu Sheng paused, seemingly unsure of how to organize his words.

Beside Bo Xiyun, Yi Zhongshen spoke up.

"Xiaoyun, your biological father, who is Gu Sheng's uncle, has the last name 'Bo'."

Bo Xiyun was momentarily taken aback.

"Is this... a coincidence?" he asked.

But Bo Xiyun had his own thoughts, and he felt that it wouldn't be a coincidence, considering that the surname "Bo" isn't very common.

As expected, Gu Sheng continued.

"When you were taken away, the clothes you were wearing had your name written on them."

During that era, many children's clothes were hand-sewn by their parents, and some parents would habitually mark their child's name on the inside of the clothes.

"Your clothes were probably changed midway, but you were still wearing an anklet, and the inside of the anklet was also engraved with your last name."

The silver anklet was quite unremarkable; it was entirely handmade, with rough craftsmanship. It wouldn't fetch much money even if pawned. Additionally, anklets weren't as conspicuous as bracelets, so there wasn't much attention drawn to it on the way.

Gu Sheng spoke softly, "We found out that the anklet stayed with you until you reached the Liu family. Before the Liu family was about to exchange you to Bai Gelei, they discovered this anklet and threw it away on the spot."

However, after they discarded the anklet, the elderly members of the Liu family started having recurring nightmares and feeling inexplicably anxious for several days.

The Liu family consulted a spiritual master, who suggested a solution: they should find a distant relative with the surname "Bo" and have that couple claim the child as their own.

"So, they specifically found a couple with the 'Bo' surname to give you a name," Gu Sheng sighed softly.

Furthermore, after Bai Gelei kicked you out of the family, he forced you to change your last name from Bai to Bo.

Due to a series of coincidences, Bo Xiyun ended up reclaiming his original surname.

After listening to all of this, Bo Xiyun didn't show any negative emotions. He even turned around and comforted Gu Sheng.

"Isn't this a good thing?"

In truth, Bo Xiyun understood.

It wasn't so much that the family members had nightmares due to losing the silver anklet, but rather that they were plagued by guilt and constantly worried about Bai Gelei discovering their secret, making it difficult for them to rest.

The so-called solution they sought from the spiritual master was just a way to console themselves.

"…Mhm."

Seeing that the child wasn't affected, Gu Sheng felt a mixture of relief and bitterness.

He couldn't help but feel that his younger brother was too understanding, to the point of being heartbreaking.

After calming his emotions, Gu Sheng continued, "That silver anklet was actually made by your little aunt herself. She used silver pieces to craft two rings in the lab, but she only made the anklet."

Bo Xiyun asked, "…Rings?"

As he had suspected, Gu Sheng confirmed, "Yes, they were the wedding rings of your little aunt and uncle."

Three family members, two rings.

Though those items might not have held monetary value, they were personally crafted and polished with every curve, embodying a profound love.

What Gu Sheng didn't mention was that when Bo Xiyun went missing all those years ago, he had carried many items that the family members had given him. Items like a tiger-head hat, a longevity lock, and a safety charm.

Anyone could see how deeply cherished this child was by his family.

Gu Sheng managed to control his emotions and forced a smile. He said, "Regardless, the change in surname is indeed a rather accidental occurrence. Your household registration will be taken care of by the family as soon as possible. If there's a need for a name change or anything of that sort, it will be done according to your wishes."

Bo Xiyun knew that Gu Chang must have informed the family about his previous troubles due to the name change forced by the Bai family. So whether he chooses to change his name now or not, the Gu family will handle it for him.

Changing the name, while a difficult topic to bring up, was one that had to be addressed.

Until now, Bo Xiyun had still been addressing Gu Sheng as "senior Gu."

The Gu family hadn't rushed him to change it, just wanted him to know that they would support whatever decision he made.

Bo Xiyun wasn't ready to respond, but Gu Sheng indicated, "Take your time, really. Just think about it."

He then gestured to the other side of the room and said, "Shall I show you the rest of the room? You can rest later."

Bo Xiyun had no objections, so Gu Sheng got up and began introducing the remaining parts of the bedroom that had been interrupted by the phone call earlier.

While referred to as a bedroom, it was actually a suite, complete with a separate dressing room, an individual bathroom, a study, a game room, and more. Each individual room was comfortably furnished. In the game room, Bo Xiyun not only saw common electronic devices like computers and tablets, but also high-end gaming consoles.

When it came to this part of the tour, Gu Sheng was particularly proud. He was quite knowledgeable in this area.

"These switches, PS4s, and the like were all chosen by me, and I've already bought game cartridges. Feel free to play," Gu Sheng proudly explained.

At the end of the tour, Gu Sheng led the two back to the master bedroom.

"By the way, we recently replaced the mattress here, so it might be a bit soft," Gu Sheng asked, "Do you prefer a soft or firm mattress, Xiyun?"

Bo Xiyun wasn't particularly picky about that aspect, and he didn't want to trouble others.

"Either is fine."

Gu Sheng said, "Then try this one for now. If it's uncomfortable, we can change it."

The bed was topped with a goose down comforter, perfect for the season. Regardless of where one looked inside the room, there was no trace of dust. It wasn't that someone had just come to clean, but rather, it was maintained regularly.

In fact, Bo Xiyun noticed in the bathroom that various items were likely replaced frequently.

Even items like tissues and toothpaste were meticulously dated. These small, often overlooked details were handled with care. Although no one had lived here yet, it felt like it was always waiting for him to return.

Bo Xiyun took a deep breath and softly said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Gu Sheng smiled, "Why say that? It's not hard at all."

Bo Xiyun couldn't help but ask, "Will there be someone coming regularly to take care of this place?"

Gu Sheng readily confirmed, "Yes."

"Apart from the cleaning lady who comes to tidy up, family members will also come by to check and add things if needed."

But then he added, "This has nothing to do with it being hard."

Gu Sheng didn't know about others, but every time he came to this room, he felt the same way.

"Whenever I come to tidy up or leave things here, I always feel like maybe you'll come back soon."

"Perhaps you'll need these things right away."

He laughed.

"So every time I come, I'm filled with excitement."

Overflowing with anticipation and warmth.

Bo Xiyun was taken aback.

He looked at Gu Sheng in front of him, sharing his genuine happiness openly. It was as if what Yi Zhongshen had said was indeed true.

"To like someone is a matter of the heart."

Bo Xiyun turned his head and glanced at Yi Zhongshen.

While they were exploring the bedroom, Yi Zhongshen had remained silent, following Bo Xiyun closely. Whenever Bo Xiyun turned around, he could see him there.

As if he had finally come to a realization, Bo Xiyun turned back to Gu Sheng and brought up the previous topic.

"About the way I address everyone..."

Upon hearing this, Gu Sheng hesitated for a moment before saying, "Yeah, whatever you're comfortable with."

He even added with a smile, "If you don't mind, you can call me 'Brother Gu' too."

The young man in front of him looked at him and softly said, "Brother."

"Ah..." Gu Sheng was momentarily taken aback again, but his body had already instinctively responded.

"Darling... my little brother!"

He couldn't help but burst into laughter, causing a silly grin to spread across his face.

But it also brought a warmth that made his eyes well up with tears.

Gu Sheng extended his arms in the same manner as he had done with his dad earlier and gave the young man a big hug.

"Good boy!"

Being enveloped in the embrace, Bo Xiyun felt warmth not just around his body, but also in the back of his head.

Yi Zhongshen raised his hand and ruffled his hair from the side.

Gu Sheng continued to laugh as if he couldn't stop.

He finally managed to pat the slightly sore cheeks a couple of times, trying to calm himself down. But within a couple of seconds, a grin appeared on his lips once again.

"Hehe, my little brother!"

Yi Zhongshen: "..."

In the end, Yi Zhongshen put a stop to that laughter that might scare the child and reminded Gu Sheng, "Let xiao Yun rest."

The child had a tiring day today.

Gu Sheng nodded, and after settling Bo Xiyun down, he prepared to leave.

He had already pointed out his own room earlier, letting Bo Xiyun know that he could come find him if he needed anything.

After bidding farewell to Gu Sheng, Bo Xiyun turned his gaze towards Yi Zhongshen.

"Zhongshen...?"

Bo Xiyun hesitated, his gaze still fixed on the bandaged wound around Yi Zhongshen's neck.

"Will it still hurt?"

"No, it won't," Yi Zhongshen reassured him. "The bandage will be removed after fourteen hours of applying the medicine."

With this assurance, the young man seemed to relax a bit, and he waved goodbye before Yi Zhongshen left.

He was so well-behaved that it was endearing.

"Rest well, Zhongshen."

Yi Zhongshen looked at him again before finally walking away.

"Okay."

He would.

With such a wonderful day, he would surely sleep well at night.

*

The next day was New Year's Eve, and early in the morning, Grandma Gu was brought back home.

With the return of the entire Gu family, the previously somewhat empty and quiet courtyard suddenly became lively.

Since they decided to celebrate the New Year at home on short notice, there were a few miscellaneous things that needed to be bought. Bo Xiyun and Gu Sheng accompanied Ms. Song to the supermarket.

Bo Xiyun had thought that the mall would be empty on New Year's Eve, but to his surprise, he found that the supermarket was even more bustling than usual.

The supermarket was filled with families buying things together, pushing carts and purchasing items in bulk.

Seeing Bo Xiyun's slight surprise, Ms. Song chuckled and said, "On New Year's Eve, the supermarket is the liveliest. We're still here pretty early."

Gu Sheng remarked, "My younger brother used to spend New Year's Eve studying."

He pulled a small shopping cart and waved enthusiastically, saying, "Come on, I'll take you around, buy whatever you want!"

Ms. Song chuckled and didn't stop him, saying, "Go ahead, take whatever you're thinking of."

Indeed, this was Bo Xiyun's first time in over a decade spending New Year's Eve at the supermarket with his family.

The three of them bought quite a lot, filling up the car's trunk. Most of these items weren't traditional New Year goods, but Gu Sheng considered them all things that could make his brother happy during the New Year and classified them as such.

When they returned home, the main chef of the household, Uncle Gu, had just finished cooking the braised pork ribs and pig trotters, filling the courtyard with a delightful aroma.

Bo Xiyun had heard about this tradition of eating meat during the New Year in Q city before. More precious than the appetizing spare ribs was the moment of family reunion.

Despite normally not having a big appetite, Bo Xiyun surprisingly joined Gu Sheng in devouring two whole rib sticks.

In addition, the adults fed him quite a few fragrant pieces of pig trotters.

In the afternoon of New Year's Eve, the family gathered to make dumplings together.

This reminded Bo Xiyun of the note he had written before, during the last New Year's Eve he spent with senior.

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, they were also making dumplings.

What Bo Xiyun didn't expect was that just as they were setting up the chopping board at home, Yi Zhongshen actually showed up.

It was only at this moment that Bo Xiyun finally understood the significance of Gu Sheng's remark "there's no difference" from last night.

Because the Yi family's residence was right next to the Gu family's, their houses were just a few dozen meters apart.

Gu Sheng was busy studying dumplings beside Bo Xiyun and explained that the Yi family had recently moved to City B, and it was with the help of the Gu family that they were able to purchase this courtyard house.

The two families had become neighbors by coincidence.

Yi Zhongshen brought a large plate of creatively shaped flower-shaped buns. The cake buns were made to resemble immortals and longevity peaches, looking quite delightful.

After handing over the flower buns to the elders, Yi Zhongshen didn't leave. Instead, he sat down next to Bo Xiyun and watched the children making dumplings.

Bo Xiyun wasn't skilled in cooking; he was more of an eater than a cook. When it came to culinary skills, he didn't stand out.

After observing for a while, Yi Zhongshen washed his hands and came over to help personally.

Making dumplings at home was more about creating a festive atmosphere rather than quantity, so Yi Zhongshen's actions were leisurely and unhurried as he lent a hand.

Instead of rushing to make more dumplings, he stood behind Bo Xiyun and patiently taught him how to wrap them properly, hand in hand.

Ms. Song was the main force behind dumpling-making, initially focusing on rolling out the dough but then noticing something amiss.

Meanwhile, Yi Zhongshen continued to help Bo Xiyun. His teaching was especially patient, and his large palms could encompass the slender fingers of the young boy perfectly.

Their hands interlocked, occasionally exchanging quiet words; the scene was truly pleasing to the eye.

However, Ms. Song inexplicably felt that Yi Zhongshen seemed more interested in the young hand he held than in the round dumplings.

Unable to resist, she stole another glance and then looked at her own child beside her.

"Xiaosheng," she called Gu Sheng, "take a look at Zhongshen."

Gu Sheng had just lifted his head from the half-finished dumplings in front of him and was a bit puzzled by the sudden call.

After a quick look at the two people making dumplings next to them, he understood the situation.

"Oh, my brother isn't very good at wrapping dumplings?" Gu Sheng volunteered, "I'm good at it! Come on, let me teach you too!"

Ms. Song glanced over and noticed that her own child had managed to coat both sides of the dumpling wrappers with flour. She immediately stopped him.

"Wait!"

"Don't waste the food," Ms. Song gave up, "let Zhongshen teach you."

Yi Zhongshen didn't stay for too long, as he needed to return to his own house.

During the time he had taught, the dumplings that Bo Xiyun made were already looking much better.

When Yi Zhongshen left, Bo Xiyun washed his hands and walked out to see him off. As they reached the doorway, Bo Xiyun asked with some concern,

"Senior... Can't the bandages be removed yet?"

There were still bandages around Yi Zhongshen's neck. Although Bo Xiyun didn't smell any medicine, he could tell that the bandages had been changed.

Based on what he had heard from Yi Zhongshen yesterday, Bo Xiyun had thought that senior would be fine by today and hadn't expected him to continue treatment.

"Just for stabilization," Yi Zhongshen replied, "it'll be fine by tonight."

Still worried, Bo Xiyun earnestly advised, "Then take good care of yourself these few days."

"Okay."

Yi Zhongshen raised his hand and used his fingertip to wipe away a bit of flour that had stuck to the side of the young boy's cheek.

"Go back now, we'll talk later tonight."

As evening approached, another guest arrived at the house, a renowned player known to Grandpa Gu.

The old doctor examined Grandma Gu and took a look at Bo Xiyun who was there as well. Although Grandma Gu had temporarily been discharged, her condition was stable and her spirits were surprisingly good. The old doctor quickly gave some instructions, putting the Gu family's worries to rest.

However, it was Bo Xiyun who was found to have a number of minor health issues.

The doctor mentioned that the child was weak, with weak energy and a poor constitution, as well as a slight anemia. This alarmed the family so much that they immediately wanted to retrieve the expensive ginseng from the safe.

Thankfully, the doctor explained that there were no urgent major problems, just a need for proper care and nurturing.

With this reassurance, the Gu family relaxed slightly.

But despite that, plans to improve the boy's health were now on the agenda. Regular rest was also essential during the recovery period. Therefore, after a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, it wasn't even 9 o'clock yet when Bo Xiyun was encouraged to go to bed early.

Bo Xiyun was used to going to bed and waking up early, so he didn't feel out of place.

As soon as he returned to his bedroom, he sent a message to Yi Zhongshen.

[Did you sleep well yesterday, senior?]

Yi Zhongshen responded quickly, as if he was waiting for his message.

[Yes.]

After thinking for a moment, Bo Xiyun asked another question.

[What caused it this time?]

This time the response took a bit longer.

[...I didn't sleep well before.]

Bo Xiyun frowned.

He recalled a few days ago when Yi Zhongshen had a high fever in the middle of the night and needed intravenous fluids for three full days. He had been busy during that time.

...And he had even declined his help.

In light of this, it seemed that Yi Zhongshen really hadn't rested well.

Bo Xiyun hesitated, biting his fingertip, pondering how he could be of assistance.

Before he could come up with a reply, he suddenly heard a sound coming from outside the window.

Raising his head, Bo Xiyun's room had two windows: one facing south in the study, towards the courtyard, and the other on the bedroom balcony, facing the exterior wall.

The noise was coming from the exterior window on the bedroom balcony.

As Bo Xiyun was about to confirm whether he had misheard, his phone suddenly vibrated.

Yi Zhongshen sent a message.

[Open the window.]

Bo Xiyun was taken aback.

...Open the window?

He walked over to the window, pulled back the curtains, and indeed saw Yi Zhongshen outside.

Because security personnel patrolled around the exterior walls, and there were no security bars on the windows, Yi Zhongshen used one hand to hold onto the window frame and smoothly entered through the window.

As soon as the young man landed lightly on the ground, Bo Xiyun looked at him, still somewhat dazed.

"Can you just come over from your house like this?"

"Need to climb over two walls," Yi Zhongshen replied.

He bent down to put shoe covers on his feet.

"There are trees by the wall; it's easy to come over."

Bo Xiyun quickly found slippers for him.

Seeing that the boy hadn't fully grasped the situation yet, Yi Zhongshen explained, "Didn't want to disturb your parents, so I came in this way."

Only then did Bo Xiyun turn to him, and his gaze shifted to Yi Zhongshen's neck.

The bandages around the young man's neck were removed, but there were still patches of dark marks on his taut, bare skin. The faint network of blood vessels that had formed patterns had not completely faded away.

Bo Xiyun involuntarily furrowed his brow, saying, "...It hasn't healed yet?"

"The doctor said it should fade in another two or three days."

Yi Zhongshen replied.

"Just need to rest well, and it'll be fine."

Seeing that Bo Xiyun's concern hadn't eased, Yi Zhongshen lowered his voice and explained, "Maybe it's because I didn't sleep well before, probably because I didn't see you."

So that's why senior came over tonight?

Bo Xiyun thought for a moment and said directly, "Then I'll keep you company more today."

He tried to play his part in a positive way and said earnestly, "Look at me more... to make up for the time you missed before."

Yi Zhongshen was indeed looking at him, but his response seemed to pause for a moment at Bo Xiyun's words.

As night fell, the bustling noise of the day seemed to have faded away. In the quiet and warm bedroom, there were only the two of them.

The faint light from outside cast shadows through the curtains, enveloping the room in a soft moonlit haze.

It was only at this moment that Bo Xiyun realized...

Senior, who was accustomed to enduring, had arrived.

(Tn: that is he reached out to BXY all by himself)

There are moments when patience can't be sustained.

He heard a very soft inquiry.

"Is it okay?"

The young boy still seemed a bit dazed, as if he hadn't fully recovered from the surprise of seeing Yi Zhongshen all of a sudden.

He just had an inkling that he could accept it.

So he nodded.

The room fell silent, and faint sounds of fireworks could be heard from outside.

Just a few days ago, Bo Xiyun would never have imagined that he would be here, with Yi Zhongshen.

Kissing under the fireworks on New Year's Eve.

As if everything was accompanying tonight.

Saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new.

This light touch didn't last too long, as soon the sound of a gentle knock came from outside the door.

(Tn: the light touch here should be the hint of them kissing. It explains the next sentences.)

The young boy's body visibly tensed, and when he stood up, he almost tripped over himself.

Hastily approaching, he answered the doorbell: "...Hello?"

A gentle, mellifluous voice came through the intercom, "Xiyun, it's your aunt."

(Tn: mellifluous means sweet sounding)

It was Ms. Song, Gu Sheng's mother.

Bo Xiyun hurried to the door, and Ms. Song held a small tray as she entered.

"Did I disturb you? I'm sorry, I noticed the lights on this side were still on."

Bo Xiyun shook his head repeatedly, feeling a bit tongue-tied, "No, not at all."

Ms. Guo handed over what was on the tray.

"These are herbal sachets. Today, I asked Dr. Cen for the prescription. You can hang a few of these in your room."

Ms. Song had undergone several major surgeries when she was younger, and it was the renowned doctor who helped her recover later on. Learning that Bo Xiyun was weak, she had taken note of it and consulted the same prescription that had helped her in the past. She prepared the herbal sachets and brought them over.

"Thank you, thank you very much."

Bo Xiyun accepted the herbal sachets. Then, Ms. Song continued speaking.

"By the way, there might be fireworks later, so remember to close the windows to avoid being disturbed while resting."

Ms. Song added, her voice trailing off a bit, "Is Zhongshen here too?"

Bo Xiyun tensed up again. However, what caught him off guard the most was Ms. Song's next words.

"Why are your ears so red, Xiyun?"

Ms. Guo scrutinized him closely once again.

"Oh my, your lips too. Are you having an allergic reaction?"

"No," Bo Xiyun finally managed to mask his voice with calmness, "it's a bit warm in the room. I'll open the windows for ventilation."

He quickly added the next sentence.

"Senior and I will chat for a bit and he'll leave soon."

Hearing Bo Xiyun's explanation, Ms. Song didn't think much of it. She hadn't been in the front living room earlier, so not seeing Yi Zhongshen entering seemed normal.

"Well, you two enjoy your chat," Ms. Song reminded, "Don't leave the windows open for too long, be careful not to catch a cold."

Bo Xiyun escorted her out, and Ms. Song didn't let him stand by the door to avoid the draft. In the end, it was Yi Zhongshen who saw her out.

Turning back, Yi Zhongshen saw the dazed young boy standing by the table.

In what should have been a moment of relief, Yi Zhongshen's mind conjured an unexpected thought.

Thank goodness he hadn't kissed just now.

The boy's lips were soft and tender, as if they would turn red with even the slightest touch.

His lips were slightly swollen.

But it seemed to make them even more tempting.

However, the boy's current emotions were indeed somewhat bewildered, and his gaze as he looked over was also somewhat distant.

Yi Zhongshen walked over, about to apologize, but he heard the other person say in a hoarse voice.

"Senior, your injury has turned red again."

A sense of profound sadness was evident in the boy's eyes, as if it wasn't Yi Zhongshen who had been hurt, but himself.

Or perhaps, he was blaming himself for causing harm to Yi Zhongshen.

"Is it... very uncomfortable?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you, senior."

The boy lowered his head, his voice carrying a slightly heavy nasal tone.

"Maybe, kissing wasn't effective."

"It seems like only I felt comfortable..."

The boy's words were tinged with sadness, as if he believed that his presence had caused trouble and discomfort for Yi Zhongshen.