TLDMDTBS Chapter 69

Chapter 69

This sound disturbed the entire ship.

When Gu Xiuyi and his team arrived, Ji Ruan was already standing upright, his palm gently resting on the railing. Hearing the noise, he turned to look over at Gu Xiuyi.

His hair was a bit messy, his eye sockets and the tip of his nose were reddened from the night wind, but his expression was very calm.

Gu Xiuyi quickly stepped forward and draped his coat over Ji Ruan. In just a few minutes, although it was a summer night, Ji Ruan felt as if he had frozen; the skin on his cheeks and neck felt icy.

His lips were also cracked; he instinctively licked them and began to speak, “I…”

Gu Xiuyi held him tightly in his arms, “It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything.”

God knows how terrified he was when he heard someone had fallen into the water and then turned around to find Ji Ruan missing, as if all the blood in his body had suddenly frozen.

Ji Ruan couldn’t swim well. The last time he taught him how to swim, he didn’t learn and ended up cramping; his ears weren’t great either, and if he fell into the water he wouldn’t be able to hear. Without someone to hold him, he would be scared.

Although right now, it seemed like the one most frightened was Gu Xiuyi himself.

Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine and made his hair stand on end.

He held Ji Ruan like this for a while, feeling Ji Ruan’s shallow breaths brushing against his ear. Only when he confirmed that Ji Ruan was safe and sound in his embrace did his heart slowly settle back into place, allowing reason to take the lead again.

“It’s fine, let’s go back first.” He gently caressed Ji Ruan’s face, carrying him back to the sofa in the hall and wrapping him in a blanket.

The live broadcast had long been cut off, media reporters had all been banned from filming, and the bodyguards were dispersing the guests in batches. Just after dealing with the reporters, while the guests were halfway dispersed, Lin Qing was fished up and thrown into the hall, soaked through and coughing up water on the floor.

The remaining guests, initially in a state of confusion, were unwilling to leave upon seeing this scene and stood at a distance to watch.

Lin Qing hadn’t recovered yet and was lying on the ground crying, his face covered in a mixture of river water, tears, and saliva, looking incredibly disheveled.

Fang Lan covered her nose upon seeing this and disdainfully remarked, “Why bring someone like this in? Just find a place to keep him overnight, and he can go back tomorrow.”

The crew member who fished him up explained immediately, “Because when I saved him just now, he kept yelling that he was pushed.”

As he spoke, he pointed at Ji Ruan, “And I actually saw that gentleman leaning over the railing; just didn’t see the process, can’t jump to conclusions.”

Ji Ruan was currently holding a cup of hot water to warm his hands. Hearing this, he raised his gaze towards Gu Xiuyi and calmly said, “I didn’t.”

Gu Xiuyi patted his hand in reassurance, “I know—Song Ling, go check the surveillance.”

Song Ling nodded, “I’ve already sent someone to get it.”

Lin Qing, who had been lying on the ground, finally sat up, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Ji Ruan, “Fine, let’s check the surveillance. Just don’t think you can say that I dared to do something without taking responsibility.”

Li Sui’an sighed, “To be honest, we all think he wouldn’t bother to intentionally push you; you’re not that important of a person, how do you feel about it?”

“Am I saying he did it intentionally?” Lin Qing shot a glare, “We had a dispute and both of us fell; the difference is he fell on the ground without any issues, while I was pushed into the water and nearly lost my life. Does causing harm by accident not count as harm?”

Hearing that both of them had fallen, Gu Xiuyi’s temples throbbed intensely. He quickly pulled Ji Ruan’s hand to check, “Did you get hurt anywhere?”

Ji Ruan was wearing long sleeves and long pants; falling once wouldn’t cause any serious problems, just that he bumped his head and dislodged his external device, taking him a moment to stand up.

He pressed down on Gu Xiuyi’s hand and shook his head, “I’m fine.”

Gu Xiuyi didn’t dare to let his guard down, examining Ji Ruan carefully to ensure he wasn’t hurt or bleeding before finally letting out a small sigh of relief.

The crew member also stepped forward, a bit dazed and said, “I thought, if he really was pushed, he would definitely want an explanation. But if he is wronging others, then he can’t just say whatever he wants without clearing the other person’s name, so that’s why I brought him in.”

The surveillance was quickly brought over, and Song Ling handed his phone to Gu Xiuyi. “Look.”

Gu Xiuyi moved aside and sat Ji Ruan on his lap, speaking calmly, “Just play it on the big screen.”

Lin Qing sensed something was off upon hearing this, but before he could think more, he saw himself on the big screen, looking like a ghost.

He saw how he blocked Ji Ruan, how he pressured him step by step when Ji Ruan wanted to retreat, and how he crazily entangled with Ji Ruan, eventually pushing Ji Ruan and losing his balance, falling over the railing. All of it was clearly displayed on the big screen.

The ultra-high-definition camera captured every one of his expressions in exquisite detail—those ferocious, jealous, manic, and resentful looks were exposed to the gaze of every person present without holding back.

“……”

The facts were clear, with no room for rebuttal.

The venue fell into a hushed silence.

Lin Qing seemed to fall into a strange calm after his frenzy, sitting rigidly on the ground.

Gu Xiuyi’s heart ached at the sight on the screen; each time Ji Ruan fell, it felt like a wound was cut into his heart.

He tightened his grip around Ji Ruan, his eyes filled with an anger he couldn’t conceal.

Song Ling stepped forward, looking down with a menacing stare. “What else do you have to say?”

Lin Qing’s eyes moved, yet there was no focus; like a lunatic, he mumbled, “I didn’t say anything wrong…”

“We… we had a dispute, and then during the struggle I fell off the ship; I didn’t say anything wrong, he harmed me by accident, I’m not wrong…”

“So what? Do you think saying all this helps?” Gu Xiuyi lowered his head, gently patting Ji Ruan’s back.

“Even if we say Ji Ruan accidentally pushed you during the argument, what does it matter? Are you expecting me to stand on your side and blame Ji Ruan?”

“Do you think that’s possible?”

Perhaps because he was talking to Ji Ruan, Gu Xiuyi said this extra gently, the words sounding eerily tender in the vast hall.

“You probably never understood one fact,” he finally threw Lin Qing an icy glare, “this is the Gu family; it’s not a place where you have the right to speak.”

No matter what he said, he continued to gently comfort Ji Ruan, who pushed away his hand and sat up straight, shaking his head to signal that he was fine.

Gu Xiuyi didn’t insist, instead holding Ji Ruan’s cold fingertips, leaning slightly back against the sofa, his tone indifferent, “Mr. Lin probably really is injured, his mind’s been affected.”

“But it’s fine, since this incident occurred at the Gu family banquet, we will naturally take responsibility.”

He gently stroked Ji Ruan’s smooth nail bed. “I will invite a doctor specializing in mental health to examine you and provide subsequent long-term treatment. Mr. Lin can rest assured.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a murmur of surprise spread through the crowd.

Lin Qing seemed to misunderstand, dazedly looking around.

Bai Yue shivered all over, looking at Gu Xiuyi with horror, “You… you want to send him to a mental hospital?!”

Gu Xiuyi glanced at him indifferently, “What? Do you want to accompany him?”

His gaze resembled sharp ice blades, chilling Bai Yue to the bone, who immediately stumbled back two steps in silence.

The mention of a mental hospital completely awakened Lin Qing. He suddenly widened his eyes, breaking free from the grip of the bodyguard: “You want to imprison me?!”

“Gu Xiuyi, do you want to lock me up?!”

“—I’m not crazy! How dare you imprison a living person in a mental hospital? There’s no law under heaven for that, is there?!”

He smiled slightly, shaking his head softly, “Whether you’re insane isn’t for you to decide; the doctor will provide the right diagnosis.”

This smile sent chills down everyone present.

Lin Qing froze for a second, his breathing becoming rapid.

In his panic, he suddenly looked at Gu Xiuli, as if finally realizing something, and shouted sharply:

“Didn’t you say the surveillance was broken?! Gu Xiuli, did you betray me?!”

His eyes were so red it seemed they would bleed: “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?!”

The gaze of the onlookers shifted over.

Gu Xiuli was suddenly pointed out and scared out of his wits, stammering, “What… what are you all looking at me for? I would never do such a thing—Bai Yue, yeah! It must be you, you’re the one who led Lin Qing to stir up trouble!”

“I didn’t!” Bai Yue was flustered, “I only told him the surveillance on the deck was broken; I didn’t make him jump into the river!”

Gu Xiuli trembled with anger, “You’re talking nonsense! It’s obvious the two of you did this on purpose. I just mentioned the surveillance casually and you remembered it so clearly and turned around to tell others as if it wasn’t intentional. Does anyone believe that?!”

“You!” Bai Yue, cornered, shouted back, “Do you think you can clear yourself? The plan was collectively decided. Lin Qing is still the one you brought in!”

Ji Ruan couldn’t help but twitch his lips, taken aback by the unfolding drama of dog-eat-dog.

“Enough!” Gu Changyun slammed his hand against the wheelchair, coughing for a while before finally supporting himself and glaring at Gu Xiuli: “You were the one who brought him in, right? …Do you still remember today is my birthday banquet? Huh?!”

“You’ve completely humiliated me!”

Gu Xiuli’s legs went weak and he fell to his knees, rambling, “No, Grandpa, ah, I really brought him in, but he was introduced to me by Bai Yue! I just helped Bai Yue with a small favor; I never thought it would turn out this way… I…”

“—It was Bai Yue who suggested it! He said there was a way to embarrass Ji Ruan. I admit I had bad intentions in helping him, but I didn’t mean to make you lose face. By the time I wanted to stop it, it was too late!”

Bai Yue scoffed, “Don’t try to make yourself sound so innocent; you were all excited when you said you wanted to be involved.”

“How did I know you were so shameless?”

Gu Changyun leaned back in his wheelchair, breathing heavily, “As expected, what kind of life produces what kind of children. A small-time mistress from a poor family can only give birth to this kind of undeserving wretch.”

He was clearly delirious and talking nonsense, as if caught in his own thoughts: “Fortunately, in these years I kept you under control, didn’t let the two of you drive the original spouse to her death and show off, otherwise… otherwise my old face would not have made it to now…”

Ji Ruan could clearly feel Gu Xiuyi tightening his embrace, worry flashing in his eyes.

Gu Xiuyi patted his waist, forcing out a smile, “It’s okay.”

With a few guests still lingering around, Gu Changyun’s speech made everyone look over and stabbed directly at Gu Xiuli’s sore spot.

He put away his previous leniency, slowly straightening his back, “Grandpa, your words are really heartless.”

The crowd watched as Gu Xiuli’s expression turned colder by the second:

“Isn’t it you who drove the original spouse to death?”

A collective gasp resonated throughout the hall.

Gu Changyun’s eyes suddenly widened in disbelief, his murky eyeballs almost popping out, unable to believe that this normally well-behaved grandson would dare to speak to him like this: “You… you!…”

“Xiao Li!” Fang Lan hurriedly stepped forward to grab his arm: “What are you saying? Stop it!”

“Let him speak.”

Gu Xiuyi had stood up at some point from the sofa, light from the hall’s crystal chandelier casting scattered reflections on his face, illuminating the hidden coldness in his eyes.

He held Ji Ruan’s hand expressionless, the veins on the back of his hand standing out—indicative of restraint to the extreme but unwilling to apply too much force; it was as if Ji Ruan was the thread that connected him, allowing him to maintain a calm and rational demeanor just by having Ji Ruan there.

“See, nobody wants you here.” Gu Xiuli laughed lightly at the old man: “My mother’s status isn’t great, but we didn’t force Jiang Ling to her death; Jiang Ling didn’t love my father, and my father didn’t love her either—what feelings could there be in a business marriage? She just wanted to divorce and fly far away.”

“It’s you who didn’t want her to go, worried that it would blow up and you would lose face, thus you forced her into the mental hospital until she died!”

“Why put the blame on us now?”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been so obscure all these years; Jiang Ling might have lived well and possibly remarried, and Gu Xiuyi wouldn’t have hated me so much…”

He gritted his teeth, “We simply wanted a foothold in the Gu family. If it weren’t for you, Gu Xiuyi’s mother wouldn’t have died, and my mother and I wouldn’t have to live such a hard life; all of this is clearly your fault!”

Gu Changyun had long lost the ability to care for himself. At this moment, he slumped in his wheelchair like a pile of rotting meat, his chest heaving violently, his face turning purple due to anger and lack of oxygen, the veins on his neck bulging red and clearly visible.

“You… shut up! Huh… shut up!”

“What? You’ve done enough evil and are still afraid of being spoken about?”

Gu Changyun forced himself up, his frail hand clutching Gu Xiuli’s collar, using the last of his strength: “I have no grandson like you; you… you will never get a single cent from the Gu family… uh!”

He suddenly stared wide-eyed in terror, clutching his chest, his features twisted in extreme pain, as the skin on his old face trembled like aged bark.

Ji Ruan stood at an appropriate distance away and saw Gu Changyun’s body suddenly convulse and spasm, twisting like a mutated zombie in a movie, before he exclaimed loudly, spouting blood onto Gu Xiuli’s face.

His eyes grew wide, starting to slide down from the wheelchair, as if all the bones in his body had melted away, his mouth still continuously spewing blood.

All the changes occurred in a split second; Ji Ruan’s pupils dilated as he staggered back, and the next second, someone covered his eyes.

Simultaneously, terrified screams erupted around him.

Gu Xiuyi tightly embraced him, swiftly removing his external device. The chaotic world suddenly faded into a blur, with only Gu Xiuyi’s steady breathing clearly rising and falling in his left ear.

“Don’t look, my baby.”

He repeatedly stroked Ji Ruan’s trembling shoulders and neck, trying to transfer warmth to him, “It’s okay, don’t be afraid, baby. No need to be scared…”

·

At ten o’clock at night, the luxurious cruise ship traveling on the Jade Valley River made an emergency stop.

Gu Changyun’s wish to be witnessed and blessed by the entire nation on his eightieth birthday turned into a bloody grave.

At the hospital, the lights in the hallway outside the emergency room were pale, resembling a morgue. Gu Xiuyi held Ji Ruan as they sat silently on a bench.

Gu Xiuli was covered in blood, now dried and black, staring blankly into space without moving, unresponsive even as Fang Lan cried and wiped his face.

“My son… my son…”

“Xiao Li, say something; don’t scare your mother…”

Ji Ruan saw Gu Xiuli suddenly move, focusing his gaze on Fang Lan’s face. Tears fell suddenly, spreading the bloodstains across his features.

“Mom…” he said softly, as if the extreme fear brought forth a near-smile: “I made him die of anger…”

“I caused my grandfather to die in front of so many people… Hahaha, I’m done, Mom, we can never be in the Gu family again…”

Fang Lan was inconsolable, “What Gu family! We don’t want it! It’s not your fault, it’s not your son’s fault; it’s him bringing this onto himself. He was never going to live past this month… and maybe he’s not dead yet; it’s not your fault…”

But Ji Ruan knew Gu Changyun could not be saved; that much blood indicated a tumor rupture or late-stage lung cancer leading to massive bleeding.

If they had reached the hospital in time, there might have been a chance, but the conditions on the cruise ship were limited, and it took too long to transfer to the hospital; the fact that he didn’t die in the ambulance was already good luck, and now there was almost no chance of survival.

Gu Xiuyi sat quietly beside him, holding his hand, his expression unreadable.

Ji Ruan lightly squeezed his palm, and he returned to focus, smiling at Ji Ruan as he pulled him into an embrace: “What’s wrong, baby? Thirsty or hungry?”

“Neither,” Ji Ruan shook his head, his frown slight, wrapping his arms around Gu Xiuyi’s neck, “I just want a hug.”

Gu Xiuyi cradled Ji Ruan’s head, his fingers mingling in his soft hair, as if his heart had begun to soften as well: “How come you’re so good?”

Ji Ruan nodded, nuzzling his neck, and received a kiss on the tip of his ear.

Just then—

The emergency room door swung open, and Ji Ruan and Gu Xiuyi turned their gazes to the sound, seeing the doctor remove his mask, his expression grave as he shook his head:

“We did our best; please accept my condolences.”

In that moment, Ji Ruan felt Gu Xiuyi let out a long sigh. It was a breath so heavy it was almost a lament, yet when exhaled, it felt weightless, as if years of repressed emotions had finally been liberated and became light.

He silently held Ji Ruan like this.

Ji Ruan understood that after leaving the ship, Gu Xiuyi didn’t take him home immediately; he remained cold but still insisted on waiting at the hospital for several minutes, likely just to personally hear this outcome.

After a moment, Gu Xiuyi opened his eyes, his expression extraordinarily calm. He lifted Ji Ruan in his arms, ignoring the gazes around them, and walked away swiftly.

He left behind a single line for Song Ling: “Arrange the funeral; don’t bother too much.”

·

When they returned home, Ji Ruan took a solid hot bath and then nestled into the bed. Not long after, Gu Xiuyi lifted the covers and entered to hold him.

Ji Ruan felt a bit cold; the hot bath seemed to have only a short-lived effect and did not truly warm his body.

So much so that when Gu Xiuyi held him, Ji Ruan’s little feet were icy.

Gu Xiuyi felt troubled in his heart, “I’m sorry, baby.”

Ji Ruan rested in his arms, the dim light in the room making his eyes appear exceptionally soft, “It’s fine, why say that?”

Gu Xiuyi traced Ji Ruan’s brows affectionately, “Today was exhausting, and it scared you, right?”

Gu Changyun’s last spurt of blood truly left some shadows in his mind; Ji Ruan pursed his lips, looking at Gu Xiuyi. Under such intimate conversation, he chose not to hide it, extending his arms to wrap around the other’s waist:

“Um… just a little bit.”

Gu Xiuyi kissed his forehead: “It’s my fault…”

Ji Ruan shook his head, gently curving his eyes, fingertips grazing Gu Xiuyi’s chin: “You’re also very tired. You have stubble growing out.”

He was quite solemn, as though he really believed that Gu Xiuyi’s stubble had sprouted because of exhaustion, displaying a bit of pity through his words.

Gu Xiuyi couldn’t help but chuckle, pinching his white, soft fingertip and pecking it: “Baby, my stubble appearing has nothing much to do with being tired.”

Ji Ruan blinked, his long eyelashes sweeping innocently: “Ah… but you never had stubble at night before?”

Gu Xiuyi tapped his temple lightly, illuminating his phone to show him the time: “In the past, at this time of night, you’d have long been sleeping like a little pig, of course, you wouldn’t know.”

“How did I become a little pig?”

Ji Ruan laughed and kicked him, but Gu Xiuyi swiftly pinched his cold little feet with his leg.

Gu Xiuyi leaned down, rubbing his chin against him: “At night, when I kiss you, you definitely don’t know; the more I kiss, the better you sleep.”

Ji Ruan’s ears turned red, and his voice choked, “You really did steal kisses!”

“Yeah,” Gu Xiuyi held his face closer, “so how about a few more?”

Saying that, he leaned in to kiss Ji Ruan’s face, his stubble brushing against Ji Ruan’s tender skin, making him shiver all over.

“Stop, stop…” Ji Ruan struggled to push Gu Xiuyi away, reclining against the pillow, panting.

The skin under his eyelids was lovingly rubbed by Gu Xiuyi’s fingertips: “It’s all red now, does it hurt, baby?”

It didn’t really hurt, just a bit unbearable.

But before he could speak, the same spot was pecked again: “Now it doesn’t hurt.”

As if kisses were some kind of healing medicine.

Ji Ruan couldn’t help but smile again. After catching his breath, he gently placed his palm on Gu Xiuyi’s chest, his expression growing serious, “Are you feeling a bit better now?”

Gu Xiuyi froze.

In the silent night, Gu Xiuyi quietly gazed into the clear pupils of Ji Ruan, who was deeply nestled under the covers, his heart feeling as though it was cradled gently in the soft palms of a child, calling out carefully and earnestly for him not to be upset.

Gu Xiuyi wasn’t unhappy.

When Gu Changyun died, his first feeling was that the shackles binding him had been released; followed by a wave of indescribable emptiness.

For he suddenly realized that, even though he hated Gu Changyun and every member of the Gu family, Gu Changyun’s death wouldn’t change anything.

His mother wouldn’t return because of this, and the lives of the others in Gu family would not become better or worse; they were all simply crazed walking corpses.

And the only difference for Gu Xiuyi was that he had Ji Ruan by his side.

He had a lover like a little sprite who would embrace him, kiss him, and shine brightly around him.

Not everyone was fortunate enough to have this kind of luck.

His gaze unknowingly softened, carefully and cherishably wrapping Ji Ruan in his embrace, gently stroking the delicate nape of his neck.

“I’m liberated, thank you, baby.”