Chapter One Hundred

Five days was actually enough time to say goodbye to his friends. Yu Xingyue did not want his departure to leave them sad. It was only a brief separation of two years, and two years was a fixed span of time. For Yu Xingyue, that was a very short stretch; what mattered most was staying with Sun Ying and, for the greater part of that time, protecting her safety.

He knew his own strength very well. So long as he did not overexert himself, he could use his power to protect both himself and others. Yu Xingyue then said to Sun Yao, “This much time is enough, but you need to be patient too. I’ll take my time saying goodbye to my friends, and we can talk about the rest afterward.”

After they talked for quite a while, Yu Xingyue’s countdown began. During this time, he could decide for himself what he wanted to do. Yet when he thought of standing before everyone and saying farewell in person, it still felt difficult. Once the words left his mouth, his feelings would be impossible to hold back. Yu Xingyue had always struggled to control his emotions unless the occasion was solemn. If he were shown a moving documentary, he might well cry until his eyes swelled shut.

At that moment, Lin Zimo pushed Xiao Jian, who sat in a wheelchair, back to his home. Or rather, she had brought him there to live with her. Following behind them, Lin Xiaxin carried Xiao Jian’s luggage into the house.

Xiao Jian had never expected Lin Zimo to be willing to take in someone as useless as him. Since the day he was discharged from the hospital, something inside him had begun to change. His mood, once relieved and easy, had in an instant turned into self-abandonment. He no longer felt any desire to stay in his own home, and his parents had not come to see him in the hospital except once, when they returned for the major decision of the amputation; the rest of the time, they had only worked.

Thinking of that, Xiao Jian truly felt exhausted. He had even begun to wonder why he had been born into such a cold family.

Lin Zimo noticed that Xiao Jian’s mood was off and signaled Lin Xiaxin to comfort him. Understanding Lin Zimo’s meaning, Lin Xiaxin spoke to Xiao Jian. “I know you’re really upset right now. Leaving your own home to go somewhere else is never easy for anyone. Your parents don’t even know that you’ve already left them, and they won’t come back to take care of you. They only know how to work. Coming to our home is a blessing for the two of us sisters. If anyone ever bullies you, just tell us.”

At first, Lin Zimo had tried to signal for Lin Xiaxin to stop talking, but Lin Xiaxin failed to notice her expression and kept speaking to Xiao Jian. Lin Zimo was afraid Lin Xiaxin might go too far and make Xiao Jian angry, but those worries were unnecessary. Xiao Jian not only did not get angry, he listened to Lin Xiaxin very seriously.

Her words felt comforting to him. When he heard her speak of his parents, his whole body jolted, but because her remarks were all criticism of them, he felt a great deal better. His mood also no longer sank as low as before.

After taking a deep breath, Xiao Jian said, “Thank you for comforting me. Hearing you say that, I already feel much better. They’re just workaholics who only care about their own jobs and never come home to see their son. In that house, I can no longer feel the warmth I once knew. It’s become a cold hell.”

Lin Zimo first carried Xiao Jian’s luggage into her own room. There was no room specifically prepared for him yet, so they would wait until her parents came back before deciding. During that brief interval, when Xiao Jian looked at Lin Xiaxin, she avoided his gaze. The blush on her face was unmistakable, and even with her back turned, it was clear that she was embarrassed.

Seeing Lin Xiaxin blush, Xiao Jian found himself blushing as well. He remembered exactly what Lin Xiaxin had done to him before, and no one understood it better than he did. He wanted to ask clearly about the feel of that kiss from that day, whether it had been a momentary impulse or genuine emotion.

Just as Xiao Jian was about to ask, Lin Xiaxin spoke first. “I know what you want to say, but I’m telling you, I only did that because I didn’t want you to be sad over losing your legs. That’s why I did something like that. If you hate anyone, then hate yourself for accepting such a fate.”

“But wasn’t what you did too casual?” Xiao Jian said coldly. “You gave your first kiss to a man you don’t even love. That makes me wonder whether you’re just as careless in your daily life.”

He was deeply dissatisfied with what Lin Xiaxin had done before. To give that kiss so freely to some man was, in Xiao Jian’s view, far too much. Lin Xiaxin had meant to console him and help him out of the pain of losing his legs, but instead she only made him even angrier. The emotions from before came rushing back.

“What are you two talking about?” Lin Zimo came out with a half-smile. “While I was busy carrying the luggage, you must have whispered a lot to each other, huh?”

She had heard everything just now, but did not bear to interrupt them. Still, when she heard how casually Lin Xiaxin spoke to Xiao Jian, she knew at once that Lin Xiaxin was pretending. Was she trying to clear herself of any connection with Xiao Jian?

Lin Xiaxin ignored Lin Zimo and went straight back to her room. Soon, the sound of the door locking could be heard. After she retreated inside, Lin Zimo pushed Xiao Jian into the living room.

Lin Zimo did not know what to do. This was her first time receiving a guest, and it was unlike greeting customers in a café; besides, this was an acquaintance. She knew Xiao Jian fairly well. As the captain of the Origin Team, he had always been the type to tell everyone about both his strengths and weaknesses. Since he was thirsty now, she should probably go get him a bottle of cola from the refrigerator.

“I’m not thirsty right now. You should take care of yourself first. I know you’re still not used to my being here.” Xiao Jian turned his head away and did not look at her.

Lin Zimo hurriedly explained, “That’s not what I meant. I just don’t know what I should do yet. Don’t misunderstand.”

“You may not be used to me, and I can understand that. But if your parents disapprove, I’ve already prepared myself to leave. Someone like me, this useless cripple, may not be liked by anyone anyway. My fate can only be to sleep on the streets.”

“Can you stop being so self-defeating?” Lin Zimo said. “I don’t believe fate exists. And if fate really did exist, then your true fate would be death. I saw it long ago: when Lin Xiaxin went to care for you, you had already wanted to die. Having your legs injured and being looked down on by others—I understand that feeling. But you cannot condemn yourself with a single sentence.”

Xiao Jian gave a cold laugh. “You understand? No, you don’t understand at all. You’ll never understand what it feels like to be disabled. You say you don’t discriminate, but when you came to my house just now, what was that look in your eyes?”

When Lin Zimo and her sister arrived at Xiao Jian’s home, the expression Xiao Jian saw on Lin Zimo’s face had been dark. She clearly had not been prepared to take him back. If Lin Xiaxin had not been there, Lin Zimo might not even have helped him. Xiao Jian even doubted whether all of Lin Zimo’s words about helping him were sincere.

Hearing the argument outside, Lin Xiaxin came out of her room. From the situation at hand, she could tell that Lin Zimo had started it. She would never cover for her sister by slandering Xiao Jian. Instead, she spoke up for him. “Sister, why are you treating him like this? He’s your captain! Or are you still thinking about what happened after he rejected you?”

Xiao Jian laughed. His laughter was bleak, like that of an abandoned child. “Why are you speaking for me? Is this just some trick the two of you cooked up to toy with me? If you don’t like me, then it’s better that I leave. I’ve already disturbed you enough.”

He was not merely talking. He was already acting on it in his heart. Fortunately, the wheelchair was electric, so he did not need much effort to move.

Just as Xiao Jian was about to leave, someone returned. Seeing who it was, Lin Xiaxin hurried forward. “Dad, please tell Sister not to drive Xiao Jian away. Sister doesn’t like Xiao Jian, so she insists on forcing him out and making him homeless.”

The one who had returned was Lin Zimo and Lin Xiaxin’s father, Lin Yifu. He had just gotten off work when he heard Lin Xiaxin’s plea and only then noticed Xiao Jian.

In his awkward Chinese accent, Lin Yifu asked Lin Xiaxin, “Can you tell me exactly what happened?”

Having lived in Japan for a long time, he often spoke Japanese, and his Mandarin was not especially fluent, even though Lin Zimo had taught him Chinese. At best, he had only managed to pass.

Lin Xiaxin explained everything that had happened to Lin Yifu in Japanese. After hearing her out, Lin Yifu’s expression turned somewhat stern. “Then this is your fault, Lin Zimo. When someone is in trouble, you should offer help, not wait until I return. To be honest, from your tone I can tell you truly do not welcome this young man’s arrival. Your behavior disappoints me greatly. Even if you don’t like him, you should endure it. In time, you will get used to it.”

He spoke to Lin Zimo in Japanese.

Lin Zimo wanted to argue back, but Lin Yifu gave her no chance to speak and continued scolding her. In truth, Lin Zimo did not dislike Xiao Jian’s arrival. As she had said before, she simply had not been prepared, and so she had been worried all along that Xiao Jian might be driven out of the house. That was why she had spoken to him as she did.