“I’m Yaya,” the stuttering girl said quietly after her check-up, pulling Lai Li’s hand as she arrived in the ward. “This time, you can’t forget.”
Lai Li didn’t respond. “Don’t tell anyone else.”
“Got it.” Yaya nodded obediently. “Last time, you said the same thing.”
Lai Li had the assistant who had accompanied her send Yaya back to the Hedong Welfare Institute. Then he sent a message to Jing Zixiao.
“Where are you hurt? Let me see!” Jing Zixiao burst into the ward energetically, but the moment he saw Lai Li’s expression, he turned around and tried to leave. “You don’t look to be in a great mood. I’ll come back another day…”
“I’m checking out tomorrow,” Lai Li said firmly. “Sit.”
Jing Zixiao sighed and shuffled back to the bedside. He knew Lai Li’s temper well and didn’t touch him. He just craned his neck to glance at Lai Li’s neck. “Doesn’t look too serious?”
Lai Li was wearing a loose V-neck T-shirt to avoid fabric rubbing against the burned skin and to make applying medicine easier. As a result, the scars on his shoulder and collarbone were almost fully visible.
Jing Zixiao pretended not to notice and didn’t ask a single question about them.
Lai Li hummed in acknowledgment. “The doctor said my brother handled the emergency well, so it didn’t have time to fester.”
Jing Zixiao tsked, already used to how Lai Li couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning his brother.
He walked around to the other side of the bed and sat down, making sure the ward door was in his line of sight. “Was that He Shuxin getting revenge on you?”
“It wasn’t aimed at me.” Lai Li gave a brief account of what had happened, his tone laced with scornful disdain. “He Shuxin doesn’t have the guts.”
Jing Zixiao understood. He Shuxin didn’t have the ability to plan something this seamless, and if it were traced back to him afterward, even if the Dai Family couldn’t touch him, Lai Li would grind his bones to dust.
After all, they’d been drinking buddies for a few years, and he knew Dai Linxuan was Lai Li’s one untouchable reverse scale. The barefoot guy wasn’t afraid of the one wearing shoes—once Lai Li was pissed off, he really would do anything.
He Shuxin had learned his lesson over the summer vacation, nearly getting beaten to the point of reincarnation. He definitely wouldn’t dare risk it a second time.
Lai Li asked, “What has he been up to lately?”
Jing Zixiao said, “He Shuxin probably got warned by his family. He’s been keeping a low profile publicly lately. Didn’t he just graduate this year? I heard they originally planned to put him in the company to get familiar with the medical equipment division, but He Xunzhang sabotaged it. A few days after getting discharged, he’s been preparing to start a gaming club.”
Lai Li asked, “Does he have the money?”
“You know him. He’s a nominal heir candidate on the surface, but actually pinned down by his two older brothers. To make any splash with that gaming IP of his, he’d need to throw big money at poaching talent…”
Jing Zixiao suddenly trailed off and gave Lai Li a meaningful look.
Lai Li showed a friendly smile. “No money? Perfect. I’ve got plenty.”
Jing Zixiao shivered. “You want to hire people to sabotage him? Didn’t you say the acid thing had nothing to do with him?”
“Have I settled the rumor-mongering score with him yet?” Lai Li scoffed. “And that Old Zeng guy was spreading the pedophile crap too. Who knows if he didn’t get the idea from the mastermind behind the scenes—”
Jing Zixiao stood up and poured himself a cup of water. “Then why are you still staying in their family hospital?”
“Is this their hospital?” Lai Li didn’t care. “I didn’t notice on the way here.”
The He Family was one of the top medical conglomerates in the country, with their hospitals everywhere in Danshi. The odds of landing in one were high.
“On the way here, I thought you’d deliberately chosen their hospital to scare He Shuxin, assuming he’d done it,” Jing Zixiao said as he downed a full cup of water. “Alright, spill it, Boss Lai. Why’d you call me here first thing? It can’t be that you got so scared you need my comfort.”
Lai Li said, “Check someone out for me.”
Jing Zixiao asked, “Who?”
“One of the staff at Hedong Welfare Institute, surname Zeng.” Lai Li’s face darkened. “His recent contacts with anyone, including his own and his close relatives’ online fund transfers. Any cash or valuable asset flows in or out… The more detailed, the better.”
Jing Zixiao was floored.
After a moment, he asked, “Big investigation or small one?”
Lai Li just looked at him.
Jing Zixiao lowered his voice. “We’re not that powerful yet. If we make too much noise, your brother will definitely find out about our dealings. A small check might not turn up much.”
“Don’t make it sound like we have something going on.” Lai Li felt nauseous. “I don’t like men.”
“Neither do I!” Jing Zixiao rolled his eyes, then added, “If you ask me, you’re injured, so your brother definitely won’t let the real culprit off. Won’t he investigate faster than us? No need to go to extra trouble.”
The logic made sense, but ever since Dai Linxuan returned to the country, Lai Li had felt an inexplicable anxiety, like some major event was brewing.
He hated that uncertainty.
Jing Zixiao asked, “Or is it like the reports from a couple days ago said—that auction thing is real, and you and your brother are falling out?”
Lai Li leaned back. “Every time I’m in the news, people speculate my brother will kick me to the curb right away. Isn’t that boring?”
He wasn’t involved personally, so even though Jing Zixiao knew Dai Linxuan indulged Lai Li, he could never understand why Lai Li had such unshakable confidence that he wouldn’t be abandoned.
The only person Jing Zixiao was sure wouldn’t abandon him in this life was his mom. But Lai Li and Dai Linxuan were just nominal brothers with no blood ties—how could he be so certain?
“Then do as I say and let your brother handle the investigation,” Jing Zixiao said. “Anything else?”
Lai Li said, “Find a lawyer with no ties to us.”
Jing Zixiao was stunned. “You need to sue over this?”
“For the guy surnamed Zeng.” Cold intent flickered in Lai Li’s eyes. “Help him prove innocence as much as possible. Best if they don’t even prosecute.”
“Got it…” Jing Zixiao roughly guessed what Lai Li intended and sighed, about to offer some advice when he spotted three figures at the door. He kicked Lai Li hard under the bed.
“Don’t let my brother know about the lawyer—” Lai Li started to flare up, but then heard Jing Zixiao whisper, “Your brother.”
Lai Li’s view was blocked by the hallway wall, so he couldn’t see the door.
Even so, Dai Linxuan knocked before entering with two police officers after Lai Li responded.
As the victim, Lai Li needed to give a simple statement.
The two officers were in plain clothes, one male and one female.
“—So you’re saying someone was behind this?” After hearing Lai Li’s account, the male officer said, “That’s a line of inquiry. We’ll look into it quickly and give you all an explanation.”
With that, he and his partner prepared to leave.
“Wait.” Lai Li narrowed his eyes and suddenly stopped them. “Let me see your badges.”
“Didn’t my colleague already show you?” The male officer chuckled and handed over his badge. “You won’t wait for the results and complain if you don’t like them, right?”
Dan City Public Security Bureau Criminal Investigation Team: Jin Ming.
Lai Li lifted his gaze. “As long as you don’t abuse your power or take bribes, there’s no room for complaints.”
Jin Ming raised a brow and glanced at Dai Linxuan. “Mr. Dai, your brother doesn’t seem to trust us police much.”
Dai Linxuan was peeling an apple, the skin coming off in one unbroken ribbon that danced in the air like a streamer, his knife-wielding hand smoother and whiter than mutton-fat jade. It was a pleasing sight.
He smiled faintly. “Earning citizens’ trust is one of the police’s duties too.”
“Understood.” Jin Ming nodded. “We haven’t been working hard enough.”
With that, Jin Ming and his partner left gracefully.
Dai Linxuan cut a piece of apple and fed it to Lai Li, then turned to ask, “Want some, Zixiao?”
“No, no need, thank you, Mr. Dai.” Jing Zixiao replied cautiously. “I just ate nearby. Stomach’s full.”
Lai Li watched him chew the apple Dai Linxuan had fed him slowly.
“You’re okay, so I’ve got a thing this afternoon. Catch you later, bro.” Jing Zixiao said tactfully. “See you, Mr. Dai.”
Dai Linxuan nodded. “Alright. Drive safe.”
At the door, Jing Zixiao glanced back. Dai Linxuan had skewered another piece of apple on the knife tip and was feeding it toward Lai Li.
Sympathy crept into Jing Zixiao’s eyes.
When Dai Linxuan looked over, Jing Zixiao bolted without looking back.
“?” Dai Linxuan retracted his gaze. “Is Zixiao—”
Lai Li and he spoke at the same time: “Do you know that detective?”
“No.” Dai Linxuan asked, “What’s up?”
Lai Li eyed him. “A case with witness, evidence, and suspect all in place, with almost no consequences—why does it need the city criminal investigation team?”
“Almost no consequences?” Dai Linxuan glanced indifferently at Lai Li’s shoulder. “Maybe they’re not busy lately. Plus, it happened at the Welfare Home—bad for the image.”
Lai Li frowned. “Can’t let the media get wind of it.”
True or not, if it leaked, it wouldn’t just delay Dai Linxuan’s board entry—it would tarnish the group’s image, cause stock fluctuations, and give the Dai Family ammo for later.
Dai Linxuan wasn’t worried. He fed Lai Li the last piece of apple. “Let PR handle that. Your priorities now are recovering, going to class. If you flunk this first semester…”
Dai Linxuan paused abruptly. He used the knife tip like a fork to feed the apple and had pinched it half an inch from the tip to prevent accidents.
When Lai Li opened his mouth, he took in Dai Linxuan’s fingers too.
“…If you flunk this semester, you’ll go abroad after the New Year,” Dai Linxuan said.
Lai Li seemed oblivious, nibbling the apple as he glanced at him. “I’d die outside on day two.”
Dai Linxuan set down the fruit knife and pulled up a chair. “Threatening me?”
“I wouldn’t dare. You’re my brother, the one who feeds and clothes me.” Lai Li said calmly. “You’re my only… family.”
Dai Linxuan’s fingertips curled slightly, the wet heat still vivid.
Since returning to the country, Lai Li had put up with his harassment without resisting—probably because he was his only family.
“Wherever you are, that’s where I’ll be.” Lai Li lowered his gaze to Dai Linxuan’s hand. “Bro, truth is, two years was already my limit. If you hadn’t come back, I wouldn’t have gone to this university.”
He would have gone straight to find Dai Linxuan—
Lai Li looked up, staring at his brother. “I absolutely won’t let a second two-year gap happen.”
Dai Linxuan had wanted to say no brother would care about something like that, but Lai Li wasn’t an ordinary brother.
He wasn’t like Huo Fei, who only went to Huo Wenhai for money and bailouts after trouble. Nor like He Shuxin, raised in an atmosphere of “honeyed words and hidden daggers” with his brothers.
From childhood, Lai Li had shown abnormal dependence, clinginess, and possessiveness. The psychologist back then called it imprinting.
Dai Linxuan had tried to change it, but with little success—always ending in heartache and compromise.
Dai Linxuan’s gaze dropped to the floor, then lifted slowly after a moment. “There won’t be a second two years, but give me some time to ease into it.”
“Ease into what?” Lai Li didn’t get it.
“You think being infatuated with someone is child’s play, that you can just let go?” Dai Linxuan sighed with a smile. “I need time.”
Lai Li forced out three words: “How long?”
Dai Linxuan propped his elbow on the bed, tapping his temple. “Hmm… about half a year, probably.”
Lai Li stared at him. “You’ve already been gone two years.”
“The clock starts from when I last promised you. Full count, it’s only been eight days.” Dai Linxuan said. “And I didn’t say I could definitely hold back or let go. If you keep shoving yourself in my face… who knows.”
Lai Li didn’t react much, but Dai Linxuan couldn’t continue himself.
He suppressed the spasm in his throat and stood casually. “Let’s go. Dinner at the Old Residence.”
Lai Li’s gaze fell on the pale bedsheet. “I’m hospitalized.”
Dai Linxuan said, “The doctor said you don’t need to be. Just apply ointment for a few days.”
It was Lai Li who insisted on staying; the private hospital had plenty of beds, so the doctor went along.
Dai Linxuan went to the foot of the bed, grasped Lai Li’s ankle, and lifted it, letting the pant leg slide to the knee bend and reveal the well-defined calf.
He looked down, amused. “Just because I didn’t take care of you after last year’s injury, you have to make me spend Mid-Autumn here at the hospital this year?”
“…” Lai Li stayed silent, his ankle growing warm.
“Where’s it hurt? Can I blow on it now?” Dai Linxuan squeezed his calf. “Bro was wrong. Forgive me?”
