TLDMDTBS Chapter 71
by VolareThe ward was extremely quiet, the ticking sound from the monitoring device piercing like a sharp whistle.
The moment Bai Yue pushed open the door, he noticed the exaggerated decor inside.
The entire room was in soft pink, with walls, curtains, tables and chairs, and carpet all in various shades of pink, whether deep or light, bright or subdued. Every visible sharp edge had been wrapped and polished into rounded curves, and even the bedding was made of light pink silk.
Where was there any trace of a sickroom?
Did he really think of him as a princess?!
The person on the bed still lay quietly with closed eyes, sinking into the soft mattress; he was so thin that the slight rise of the light blanket on his body was hardly noticeable. Wearing an oxygen mask and connected to the monitoring device, his exposed fingers appeared even more pale than when they first met.
Bai Yue had never understood why Gu Xiuyi would like someone who looked like they could die at any moment, but recently, he felt he had come to terms with it.
Ji Ruan had actually not been asleep at all. He wasn’t sure if it was due to fever, as his head had been spinning, and the world seemed to be continuously swirling whether he opened or closed his eyes.
The window was left open, and the wind suddenly blew a bit stronger. Ji Ruan furrowed his brow and slowly opened his eyes, only to be startled by Bai Yue standing at the foot of the bed.
He hadn’t worn the external device; Bai Yue’s sound of entering the room was completely inaudible to him. If it weren’t for the door opening and allowing the air to flow, along with the curtains fluttering up, he might not have noticed Bai Yue silently staring at him at all.
Thinking of this made Ji Ruan’s back tingle.
Bai Yue was holding a bouquet of flowers and had a brown paper bag in his hand. At first glance, he looked like any ordinary visitor to the hospital, but his demeanor was unsettling.
The curtains were pulled halfway; as the sunlight streamed in, it split the room into stark contrasts of shadow and light. Bai Yue stood in the shadow, slightly lowering his head, making it difficult to see his expression clearly.
This scene was too bizarre; Ji Ruan’s heart raced, feeling a sense of déjà vu as if he was in a horror movie.
But wasn’t this a cliché heart-wrenching story?!
Oh right, Ji Ruan suddenly realized that Bai Yue probably wanted to torment him once again.
With this thought, Ji Ruan relaxed his back and sank back into the bed. Whatever, as long as he wasn’t a ghost, he could save up some strength and then summon someone to throw Bai Yue out.
At the moment Ji Ruan opened his eyes, their gazes collided. He clearly saw a glimmer of fear in Ji Ruan’s eyes, which delighted Bai Yue.
Any display of weakness Ji Ruan showed before him would satisfy his twisted inner desires.
But before he could seize the moment, Ji Ruan suddenly closed his eyes again and lay back down, completely ignoring the living person in front of him.
Bai Yue: “……？？？”
Bai Yue was momentarily confused, then his anger surged.
“Do you think playing dead will help you escape?”
There was no response from the bed.
Bai Yue gritted his teeth: “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you. I just want to tell you something—don’t you want to know why Xiuyi chose you as his spouse?”
He leaned in closer: “With so many people, why did he choose you instead of someone else?”
Bai Yue believed he had gained the upper hand. If Ji Ruan truly loved Gu Xiuyi, this revelation would surely cause him immense pain.
Ji Ruan remained motionless, and Bai Yue assumed he was merely pretending to be calm.
He chuckled lightly: “Because you’re very similar to who I used to be. The reason he can see you and brought you to his side is all because you resemble me. Even if Xiuyi no longer loves me now, do you really think you’ve won?”
Bai Yue lifted his chin high, waiting to see the shock and hurt flash across Ji Ruan’s face.
Ji Ruan gathered enough strength to make a move to press the call button. As he opened his eyes, he saw Bai Yue staring at him with a strange expression, one that was oddly frightening.
He knew this person had been murmuring something, but he was too far away and the tones of his voice were fluctuating like a theatrical performance, leaving Ji Ruan puzzled. It seemed like Bai Yue had gotten carried away and was currently in high spirits.
That expression resembled how Lin Qing looked when she was going crazy. Ji Ruan was almost suffering from PTSD, fearing he might go mad just like Lin Qing did, and he didn’t dare to let him stay any longer.
He quickly propped himself up to press the button, but just as he reached out, the oxygen mask hindered his movements.
Ji Ruan frowned and tried to push the mask down, but his hand was restrained by an IV drip, and he was also connected to monitoring device wires. Already feeling dizzy, the tangle of wires made it worse, and he involuntarily rolled his eyes and lay back down.
“What’s that expression?” Bai Yue, not seeing the response he expected, looked incredulous: “You don’t believe me?”
This sentence was loud, and Ji Ruan seemed to hear him talking about some matter of belief.
A big question mark popped up over Ji Ruan’s little head.
Believe? Believe what? Did Bai want to write him a letter?
What kind of terrifying plot was this?
In an attempt to understand what kind of letter Bai Yue intended to send him, Ji Ruan took a breath, peeled back a corner of the blanket to feel around, trying to locate the external device.
But the external device had been removed by Gu Xiuyi. That person’s placement of things was notoriously tricky, and Ji Ruan groped for a while without success.
“Ji Ruan!” Bai Yue was completely enraged by Ji Ruan’s dismissive demeanor.
In a fit of rage, he threw down the flowers and rummaged through the brown paper bag to pull out a stack of documents and photos: “You don’t believe me? Look! I have evidence!”
“Your silhouette resembles mine, I love literature just as you do, I love painting just as you do, you are my shadow, everything about you is just like me!”
He furiously tossed all the materials onto Ji Ruan:
“He only loves me!”
Swish!
Countless photos scattered through the air, showering the edge of the bed. Startled by a paper fluttering onto his cheek, Ji Ruan lost his balance and fell off the bed with a thud.
Instantly, the world spun.
The carpet cushioned the fall, but all the instruments connected to Ji Ruan were violently ripped away, causing sharp pain. The IV needle popped out with a snap, sending a trickle of blood rolling down the back of his hand.
Simultaneously, monitors and alarms shrieked frantically.
·
Meanwhile, Li Sui’an was practically sprinting behind Gu Xiuyi towards the elevator, his long legs nearly achieving four-wheel drive, phone clutched in his hand as he yelled.
“Hello, nurses’ station? Did the VIP room have any visitors just now?”
“They did?! Stop them!”
“What, they already went in?!”
“They’ve been in there for a while?!!”
Ding!
The elevator doors opened. Li Sui’an snapped his phone shut and strode out, pointing at the young nurse who was still holding her receiver with a look of utter confusion. “How do you do your job?! Huh?! You just let anyone in? Do you know this is a VIP room?!”
The young nurse saw a group of imposing, tall men striding down the corridor, followed by equally large bodyguards. The man in the lead, CEO Gu, looked as grim as if he were heading into battle for his country.
The girl hiccuped in fright, her legs turning to jelly. “I… I… I… I…”
“You what!” Li Sui’an cut her off. “Someone comes, and you don’t know to call CEO Gu to confirm? You just let them straight in? Haven’t you been trained?!”
The young nurse was almost in tears. “But… but… but Mr. Han used to come before, and… and… and he never called either…”
“Before… wait, what Mr. Han?”
“It’s Han… Han… Han Xiaolin,” the nurse stammered, her voice trembling. “I checked the logbook. He often came to visit before, also carrying a bouquet of flowers, so… so… so I let him in.”
The young nurse truly felt wronged. Many people knew Ji Ruan had a friend surnamed Han who visited from time to time. Before, it only required signing in. Why did this time, of all times, require reporting to CEO Gu, causing such a huge commotion?
Li Sui’an’s mind went blank for a second, then he recalled Ji Ruan did have a friend surnamed Han who had brought flowers a few times.
He slammed his hand on the desk. “Does Han Xiaolin look like that?! He’s skinny as a rake! Can’t you even recognize people?”
The nurse cried, “I’d never seen him before!”
This was the first time “Han Xiaolin” had come to visit during her shift. Other colleagues had always handled it before. She couldn’t possibly have imagined today’s visitor was an imposter, nor did the thought of checking the surveillance footage cross her mind.
Li Sui’an was rendered speechless by the young woman. Pointing a finger, he stammered, “You… you, you, you…”
Wee-woo— Wee-woo—
The urgent sound of alarms cut Li Sui’an off.
Song Ling, who had been following closely behind Gu Xiuyi, saw Gu Xiuyi’s back stiffen violently at that moment.
Then, Gu Xiuyi raised his leg and kicked the room door open with tremendous force. The door slammed against the wall, the impact rattling the window frame opposite.
Inside the room, Bai Yue stood frozen in terror at the foot of the bed. Ji Ruan, however, wasn’t lying properly in bed as per Li Sui’an’s instructions, but was sprawled on the floor, his face pale, a stream of blood trickling down the back of his hand.
Gu Xiuyi’s vision darkened for an instant, his temples throbbing violently, as if the surging blood threatened to burst from his veins.
Acting before thinking, he strode forward and gathered Ji Ruan into his arms. “Didn’t I tell you not to get out of bed?!”
But Ji Ruan’s wide eyes were filled with blankness, his delicate brows furrowed in a look of utterly lost fright.
Gu Xiuyi’s heart ached. He couldn’t imagine what Bai Yue had done to terrify Ji Ruan like this.
His chest heaved, arms rigid, his back slightly arched like a startled animal.
After a moment, he steadied his breathing and kissed Ji Ruan’s ear, a gentleness fiercely restrained beneath his fury.
“It’s okay, don’t be scared. I will definitely get you treated.”
One of the bodyguards, a tough man who clearly knew how to be protective, was instantly filled with righteous indignation upon seeing Ji Ruan’s state. Without needing orders from Gu Xiuyi, he automatically stepped forward, grabbed Bai Yue by the collar, and threw him out.
A large group of medical staff arrived close behind, tending to the wound on Ji Ruan’s hand and replacing his oxygen mask. Li Sui’an stayed behind to check his ears again.
Bai Yue was thrown into an empty lounge with no internet or phone signal. He sat there waiting for a long time, his heart turning to ice, before Gu Xiuyi finally arrived.
Gu Xiuyi was no longer showing the earlier loss of composure. His shirt and tie were meticulously arranged as he sat down on the sofa opposite Bai Yue, with Song Ling beside him.
He didn’t speak immediately, just stared quietly at Bai Yue.
Bai Yue couldn’t read Gu Xiuyi’s expression; rather, there was no expression on his face at all, making him completely inscrutable. Yet, deep within his gaze seemed to hide an unspeakable darkness and gloom that made Bai Yue’s scalp prickle.
“I…” he bluffed, “I really didn’t touch him. I didn’t mean to hurt him…”
Gu Xiuyi gently fiddled with the wedding ring on his ring finger, not responding. Instead, he took the documents Song Ling handed him and tossed them in front of Bai Yue.
“But you planned to provoke him with these, didn’t you?”
Bai Yue’s fingers clenched abruptly. He nervously licked his lips.
After a long moment, he slowly raised his head, his eyes brimming with tears. “…Isn’t this the truth?”
He stared fixedly into Gu Xiuyi’s eyes, afraid to miss even the slightest hint of hidden emotion.
“You used to like me…”
“That’s why you subconsciously chose someone who resembled me to marry. Even though you don’t love me now, you can’t deny that the person who first caught your heart… was me.”
Tears trickled down his cheeks as he gazed at Gu Xiuyi, looking desperately clear-headed yet utterly distraught. “Was I wrong to tell him the truth?”
To be fair, Bai Yue wasn’t bad-looking. His face was fair, features regular, his back slender but straight. Looking at someone with tears in his eyes like this carried a certain pitiful appeal.
At least, most people in the world seeing this scene, whether they knew him or not, would likely be moved.
But Gu Xiuyi was indifferent, his face impassive, unmoved by Bai Yue’s tears.
His mind was entirely occupied with how to tell Ji Ruan about the surgery. The boy seemed to have an unusual fear and resistance to operations.
Annoyed, Gu Xiuyi had no patience to fence words with Bai Yue. He stated directly, “I think you’ve misunderstood.”
Bai Yue chuckled lightly. “What, are you trying to deny it?”
Gu Xiuyi shook his head. “While it’s true I never liked you, and marrying Ji Ruan had absolutely nothing to do with you, what I need to tell you is that Ji Ruan wasn’t the marriage partner I chose myself.”
Bai Yue froze, then laughed as if hearing something utterly absurd. “What does that mean? Are you trying to say someone forced you to marry?”
Gu Xiuyi leaned back relaxedly on the sofa, legs crossed, fingers interlaced. The posture struck Bai Yue as particularly jarring.
He remembered clearly, the first time he saw Ji Ruan in the studio, the man had sat just like that, sizing him up with a very nonchalant gaze.
Gu Xiuyi said calmly, “This might be hard for you to accept, but I have to tell you, my marriage partner was meticulously selected by my secretarial team based on requirements.”
“At the time, they believed Ji Ruan was young, outstanding, had no family ties which would avoid future complications, and possessed an excellent image and temperament. That’s why they took the initiative to contact him and sincerely invite Ji Ruan to enter into a marital relationship with me.”
“Unfortunately, they didn’t know you.” Gu Xiuyi smiled faintly. “And originally, I didn’t care who I married.”
As he spoke, a trace of tenderness suddenly appeared in his eyes. “It was because he is Ji Ruan that things started to change, to become different. The variable was entirely him, simply because he is Ji Ruan, and it has nothing to do with anyone else.”
“As for you mistakenly thinking I like Ji Ruan because his appearance resembles yours from ten years ago, I find that regrettable. It’s likely a symptom of delusional thinking.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Regardless, I am very grateful to my secretarial team. When Ji Ruan recovers, we will invite them to sit at the head table at our wedding.”
“Do you have any other questions?”
Bai Yue sat rigidly in place.
Gu Xiuyi’s calm words were extremely hurtful. He had always been adept at using the simplest language to sting and attack others; it was just that his temper had softened considerably recently thanks to Ji Ruan, and it seemed many had forgotten this was his usual demeanor.
Bai Yue’s long-held fantasy was ruthlessly shattered. For a moment, he couldn’t react, feeling a dizzying sense of loss, as if his entire worldview had collapsed.
Countless indescribable emotions flickered across his face – pain, confusion, ultimately crumbling into chaos and breakdown.
“Delu… delusional?” In his extreme disappointment, Bai Yue actually laughed. “So you plan to lock me up in a mental hospital too? Like Lin Qing? Treat me like an animal?”
Gu Xiuyi’s thin lips pressed together slightly, as if puzzled. “Of course not. Don’t you know yet? Your family is bankrupt.”
He knew perfectly well that telling Bai Yue this now was undoubtedly a second blow, but he didn’t care. There were very few things in the world he cared about.
“Not just bankrupt, but heavily in debt. I hear your parents packed up early this morning to flee abroad. Those debts will likely fall on you.”
At this moment, Bai Yue looked truly wretched.
Gu Xiuyi paused, offering a sliver of consolation. “But it’s alright. Customs and the airport were notified beforehand to impose exit restrictions. They won’t get away. Your family will still have a chance to reunite in prison.”
Bai Yue’s face flushed crimson, veins bulging on his forehead. It seemed like he was suppressing a mouthful of blood, ready to vomit at the slightest further provocation.
Gu Xiuyi wasn’t the type to kick someone when they were down, nor would he bully someone excessively. He stood up, straightened his collar, preparing to leave. “Your schedule today must be quite busy. There are others waiting to see you later, so I won’t take up any more of your valuable time.”
Bai Yue’s eyelids twitched. He looked at Gu Xiuyi with the last shred of his sanity. “What people?”
He definitely hadn’t arranged to meet anyone else today.
Gu Xiuyi frowned. “You don’t know about your father borrowing from loan sharks either?”
Bai Yue’s head snapped up, his eyes filled with indescribable terror.
Song Ling added quietly from the side, “He knows. He was the one who took it upon himself to borrow the money. Now they’ve come knocking.”
Gu Xiuyi understood. He instructed Song Ling, “Then hand him over. Don’t let that group cause a scene and disturb Ji Ruan’s sleep.”
Song Ling suppressed a smile. “Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it right away.”
Gu Xiuyi nodded and pushed the door open, striding away.
Just before turning the corner, he heard a heavy thud from inside. Bai Yue had probably fainted.
·
After leaving, Gu Xiuyi specifically went back, took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and tidied himself up before going to see Ji Ruan.
Fortunately, Ji Ruan was completely unharmed.
Well, Li Sui’an’s exact words were: With a carpet this thick, it would have been a miracle if he had gotten hurt.
When Gu Xiuyi pushed the door open, Ji Ruan wasn’t sleeping. The oxygen mask had been removed and replaced with a more comfortable nasal cannula. He was blinking his large eyes, playing with his fingers, and even gave Gu Xiuyi a sweet smile when he saw him.
Gu Xiuyi’s heart melted instantly once more.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, gently rubbed Ji Ruan’s cheek with the back of his hand, then carefully lifted him up. “Does your ear still hurt?”
Ji Ruan shook his head.
Gu Xiuyi lifted Ji Ruan’s wrist. A bandage was taped to the back of his fair hand, still lightly oozing blood.
He kissed the snow-white fingertips. “What about your hand? Does it hurt?”
Ji Ruan shook his head again, but his eyes crinkled into a smile.
He opened his mouth to speak, but stopped just as the words were about to come out. Gu Xiuyi knew he was reluctant to talk when he couldn’t hear clearly, so he took the external processor from his pocket and gently put it on for him.
Ji Ruan: “…”
He finally understood why he couldn’t find the damn thing anywhere. Turns out Gu Xiuyi had just pocketed it and run off.
Gu Xiuyi didn’t notice Ji Ruan’s speechless exasperation, looking slightly nervous. “How is it? Is it uncomfortable?”
It wasn’t uncomfortable, actually. Since the fever broke, his head hadn’t hurt at all.
Ji Ruan blinked, flashing an incredibly adorable smile, wanting to put Gu Xiuyi at ease. “It’s all better! It doesn’t hurt at all, just feels a little numb.”
Gu Xiuyi’s expression grew more complicated. Ji Ruan didn’t know it himself, but numbness was also a symptom of his cochlear implant displacement.
“By the way.”
“By the way.”
They spoke in unison.
Ji Ruan laughed.
“You first.”
“You first.”
Again, together.
Gu Xiuyi leaned down and pecked Ji Ruan’s cheek. “Baby goes first.”
The kiss tickled Ji Ruan a little. He laughed and scratched his cheek, his curved eyes shimmering, reflecting only Gu Xiuyi. “Do you have the letter?”
Gu Xiuyi momentarily stared, captivated. “…Hmm?”
“Bai Yue’s letter,” Ji Ruan propped himself up, looking more serious. “He said he came to see me today just to give me a letter.”
Gu Xiuyi: “…”
Gu Xiuyi fell silent.
Why did he know absolutely nothing about this?
Gu Xiuyi’s expression became grave and serious. He had thought he understood the whole situation, but he hadn’t expected such a significant oversight.
He carefully searched every corner of his memory but still couldn’t recall anything about a letter.
CEO Gu’s eyebrows shot up, revealing a rare look of confusion. “…What letter?”