Chapter 4: The Arrogant and Domineering Fake Young Master 04 Part 2

An hour later the blood test results came back. Shen Fu was still groggy on her IV drip, so Shen Ji took the results to the doctor alone.

The elderly doctor pushed up his glasses, read them over carefully several times, then asked a few questions about her condition. Finally, his tone grave, he said, “You’re the patient’s son?”

Shen Ji nodded. “You can tell me anything.”

Holding the lab report, the doctor said, “This, this, and these numbers are all abnormal. But from these tests alone I can’t be certain of a diagnosis. I’d suggest you take your mother to a hospital in the provincial capital for further examination.”

Shen Ji’s heart sank. “What exactly is my mother’s illness?”

The doctor sighed and looked at him. “I suspect acute myeloid leukemia—but it’s only a suspicion. It may not be. Further tests are needed to confirm.”

Shen Ji silently folded the lab report and stood. “I understand. Thank you, doctor.”

When he returned, Shen Fu had woken up. She mumbled groggily, “Little Ji, what happened to me?”

Shen Ji walked over and helped her sit up. “You had a fever again. I brought you to the hospital.”

Shen Fu muttered something about making a fuss over nothing.

But Shen Ji’s mood was heavy. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his tone light. “Mom, let me take you to a hospital in the provincial capital.”

Shen Fu didn’t understand. “Why?”

Shen Ji lowered his eyes. “You keep getting sick, and I can’t rest easy. Once I know you’re fine, I can go back to school with peace of mind.”

Shen Fu thought her child was making a fuss over nothing, but this time Shen Ji was unusually insistent. She couldn’t out-argue her son—too much education had given him a head full of big principles. And Shen Ji had always been strong-willed. So she let him take her to the provincial capital.

Shen Ji found a small inn near the hospital for them to stay in, and the next day took Shen Fu to the hospital.

It was Shen Fu’s first time at a big hospital in the provincial capital, and she was nervous and uncertain. She understood none of it—she simply did whatever Shen Ji told her. Aside from occasionally answering the doctor’s questions, all communication with the doctor went through Shen Ji.

After the tests, they waited for results.

Because of the delay, Shen Ji had to ask for several more days of leave, saying he’d be back a few days late. Wu Bo was very good to his star student, telling him not to rush, and once again pressing him to accept the money.

Shen Ji stared at the ten-thousand-yuan transfer, his mind in turmoil, and turned off his phone.

A few days later, Shen Ji sat alone in the doctor’s office.

Across from him was an old professor. He told Shen Ji: “It is indeed acute myeloid leukemia. This disease progresses rapidly. Your mother’s condition requires prompt intervention…”

Shen Ji felt as though he were sitting in an airtight container, his body heavy as lead. Even so, he listened calmly and carefully to every word, raising his own concerns from time to time.

The old professor had seen many patients and families, but someone as young as Shen Ji, so composed—that was truly rare. He patiently answered Shen Ji’s questions, then asked: “Do you plan to pursue conservative treatment, or…”

Shen Ji didn’t hesitate. “I’ll donate the bone marrow.”

The professor looked at him. “Very well. But the surgery costs…”

Shen Ji gritted his teeth. “I’ll find a way.”

Shen Ji asked the professor to keep the diagnosis from his mother for now, saying he’d raise the surgery funds as quickly as possible, and to begin conservative treatment in the meantime.

The scholarship and part-time earnings Shen Ji had saved that year amounted to about thirty thousand, plus all of Shen Fu’s painstaking savings—roughly a hundred thousand in total. Nowhere near enough for the bone marrow transplant and follow-up treatment.

When Shen Ji walked out of the hospital, the sun was blazing overhead, but he felt no warmth at all. For a moment, he felt utterly lost…

Why was this happening?

He’d finally gotten into S University, thought the future would be bright, that he and his mother would live good lives, that they’d never again struggle in the mud…

But fate had played a cruel joke.

This was an insurmountable wall before him. A helplessness he’d never known washed over him. Shen Ji clenched his fists until his nails bit into his palms.

He spent a long time composing himself, making sure no abnormality would show, before returning to Shen Fu.

Shen Fu, accustomed to small-town life, was uncomfortable in the big city. Seeing Shen Ji return, she smiled. “Little Ji, when are we going home?”

Shen Ji felt his throat tighten. He said slowly, “Mom, the doctor says you’ve overworked yourself all these years, which is why you’re weak and keep getting sick. You need a proper period of rest and recovery.”

Shen Fu hesitated. “I don’t think it’s that serious…”

There were so many things to spend money on. Shen Ji was studying in the big city—maybe someday he’d have a girlfriend, get married. She wanted to save more for him while she still could.

Shen Ji cut her off, brooking no argument. “Don’t worry about money. I have my scholarship, and my part-time earnings. Just listen to me—rest and recover properly, all right?”

Shen Fu: “I…”

Shen Ji’s dark eyes fixed on her. Word by word: “If you collapse like this again, I won’t be able to study with peace of mind either. I’ll just drop out and come stay with you.”

Shen Fu said hurriedly, “Study with peace of mind, don’t worry about me—I’ll do as you say!”

Shen Ji slowly smiled. “Good. I need to go back to school for a while. I’ll come see you in a few days.”

There were more opportunities to earn money in S City than here. No matter what, Shen Ji had to go back and try. He wouldn’t give up until the very end.

…

Li Ye had been living leisurely these past few days. Shen Ji had gone home, so Wang Shao had even less to do with him. Other than occasionally cursing Wang Shao as useless and throwing the odd tantrum, there was nothing else to do. He was rather bored—and found himself looking forward to Shen Ji’s return.

That day, Li Ye was lounging with a few of his good-for-nothing friends, sitting idly on the sofa, when a familiar voice sounded in his ear.

[Main Quest Updated: Corner the desperate Shen Ji and drive him back to the Xu family.]

Li Ye’s eyes flickered slightly. So Shen Ji already knew about Shen Fu’s illness.

Then it wouldn’t be long before Shen Ji learned he wasn’t Shen Fu’s biological son.

009 popped out excitedly at the sound. “The quest is progressing so smoothly! Looks like Shen Ji will be back with the Xu family soon!”

Since binding Li Ye as its Host, 009 felt for the first time that quests could be this easy. Plots it used to burn its CPU dry trying to handle were now progressing smoothly with the Host doing nothing at all. Not a single misstep so far—truly stable happiness.

Li Ye smiled carelessly. He turned and jerked his chin at Wang Shao. “Come here.”

Wang Shao’s gloomy gaze swept over Li Ye’s eyes, his lips. His throat felt dry. He’d taken plenty of scolding from Li Ye recently, but strangely, he wasn’t as angry as before. That restless aggression seemed to be slowly transforming into something else.

Wang Shao didn’t dare examine it too closely. He lowered his head and walked over, posture unchanged. “What are the Young Master’s orders?”

Li Ye looked down at Wang Shao mildly, his expression thoughtful. After a moment he smiled faintly, raised a hand, and patted Wang Shao’s shoulder. His tone carried a slow, cool edge. “When Shen Ji comes back this time, keep a close eye on him. I want him driven into a corner. Understand?”

Wang Shao pressed his lips together. “Yes.”

Wang Shao stared at Li Ye for a long moment, then rose to go call friends. This time he wouldn’t let Li Ye down.

In the days that followed:

Li Ye had 009 keep tabs on Shen Ji while coldly observing Wang Shao’s moves. Before, Shen Ji had wanted for nothing, leading Wang Shao’s men on a merry chase, never letting them so much as catch a shadow of him.

But now Shen Ji had to raise money for his mother’s treatment—he needed work, part-time jobs. His movements multiplied. Wang Shao finally cornered him a few times. Though he still couldn’t catch Shen Ji, he did manage to sabotage his affairs.

This made Wang Shao feel competent again.

A week later.

In the billiard room.

Li Ye bent and sank the last ball, then straightened and unhurriedly wiped down his cue. A lock of hair fell across his forehead, setting off skin white as snow. The lazy indifference in his brows and eyes made him look like a languid, aloof feline.

Wang Shao watched the young man’s profile with greedy eyes, his gaze darkening. He stepped forward to claim credit. “Shen Ji looks like he’s short on cash lately, running around looking for work. But I won’t let him have an easy time of it. Sooner or later he’ll come crawling to beg you.”

Li Ye turned his head with a half-smile. “Oh?”

Wang Shao said with certainty, “He can’t hold out much longer.”

“You’ve done well.” Li Ye smiled.

Wang Shao had been scolded daily lately—it was rare to see Li Ye smile at him. He couldn’t help staring, losing himself, his breathing unconsciously slowing.

But Li Ye paid him no more attention. He bent and set up the cue, saying mildly, “You can all head out. I want some time alone.”

Wang Shao had no choice but to leave with the others.

Li Ye stayed in the billiard room alone, casually playing a few more rounds. Outside, a fine drizzle began to fall, the damp air seeping through the window cracks, bringing a chill.

009 watched Li Ye with some confusion. Why was the Host in the mood to play alone today?

009: “Host, aren’t you going home?”

Li Ye didn’t look up. “Wang Shao may be useless, but he said one thing right—Shen Ji can’t hold out much longer.”

009: “?”

Li Ye’s lips curved. “But he won’t come crawling to beg me. He’ll find another way to see me. Naturally, I should give him the opportunity…”

009 was baffled. It said, “Oh oh oh, the Host is so impressive.”

It didn’t understand, but praise was always safe.

Li Ye played a while longer, unhurried. He raised his hand to check the time—it was past eleven at night, and the rain outside had stopped.

About time.

Li Ye grabbed his coat and headed out.

On the late-night road, rainwater glimmered faintly under the moonlight. A few cars were scattered across the parking lot. The blue Lamborghini was conspicuous even at night, parked behind a black sedan.

Li Ye’s steps paused briefly, then he lifted his foot as if unaware and walked toward the car, step by step.

The night was utterly still.

Only the soft rustle of Li Ye’s own footsteps on the ground.

Just as he passed the black sedan and was about to open his door, a hand suddenly seized him by the collar and slammed him against the Lamborghini’s window. At the same time, a forearm pressed across his chest, pinning him firmly in place.

Li Ye raised his eyes.

The man before him had clearly been waiting here a long while. His damp shirt clung to a lean, powerful body, tracing the fluid, muscular lines beneath. His black hair hung in wet strands across his forehead, water droplets sliding down his cheeks—yet they couldn’t conceal the sharpness in those dark eyes. Like a cornered beast, in all its wretched desperation, finally dropping its mask to reveal the bloodlust and wildness within.

It was Shen Ji.