Chapter Ninety-Nine

Yu Xingyue never stepped into the ward the entire time. If Zhou Ruoxue went in now, she might interrupt the atmosphere between the two of them. But Yu Xingyue still found it strange—last time Zhou Ruoxue had looked at Wang Chaolin, she had been nothing short of a lovestruck fangirl. There was no way she could have developed such feelings for Xiao Jian. It was far too soon for that.

What Yu Xingyue did not know was that Xiao Jian’s first kiss had already been stolen a few hours earlier.

When Zhou Ruoxue entered the ward and saw Yu Xingyue, she smiled. “You came early, Yu Xingyue. Are you here to take care of Xiao Jian too?”

“It’s not early at all, sis. It’s already noon,” Yu Xingyue said irritably.

“So what now? Do we take turns, or do I keep looking after Xiao Jian?” Zhou Ruoxue asked.

Yu Xingyue shook his head and said to Xiao Jian, “First, some good news. You’re fine in every other respect. The doctor says you can be discharged. Before you leave, the hospital is even giving you a wheelchair. Just look at how fitting it is.”

With that, Yu Xingyue left the ward and came back in from outside, pushing a wheelchair. Xiao Jian looked very excited when he saw it.

Anyone who did not know him might have found that reaction odd. Most people would think they would spend the rest of their lives in a wheelchair and fall into despair, but Xiao Jian faced it with optimism. The burden on his shoulders was gone, and he no longer had to bear any responsibility. That was also why the others from the Tianyuan Team envied the happiness in him; no matter what happened, he always smiled.

The moment Zhou Ruoxue noticed the wheelchair, her expression began to change. When she came, no one had told her Xiao Jian was hospitalized, and no one had told her about the amputation either. When she saw Xiao Jian pull back the blanket and reveal his amputated legs, her heart ached, yet she could not say a word. Yu Xingyue first asked her to step outside; changing clothes was not something she needed to help with.

Once Xiao Jian had taken off the hospital gown, he let out a long breath. That gown had felt like a seal binding his ability to breathe, and now that it was gone, the relief was indescribable. Changing into trousers hurt terribly, but he clenched his teeth and made no sound. This was how he overcame pain: by ignoring it and pretending it was merely a very painful massage.

After everything was done, Yu Xingyue pushed Xiao Jian out of the ward. Zhou Ruoxue followed behind them. Once the discharge procedures were completed, Xiao Jian was officially out of the hospital. There was no grand ceremony, only the doctor presenting him with flowers to wish him well.

Now there was a problem. Even though Xiao Jian had been discharged, his parents were away for work and could not often come home. His heart had long since gone cold. He no longer felt the concern his parents once gave him, and the decision to amputate his legs had been theirs as well. He did not want to return to that house anymore. In that home, he would still be alone. It was worse than an empty nest for the elderly.

Just like Huang Feifan before him, Xiao Jian no longer cared about his family and wanted to move out. But who would take him in? That was the real problem.

When Yu Xingyue pushed Xiao Jian back home, Xiao Jian was packing his things, and Yu Xingyue stopped him several times. His condition made movement inconvenient, and that was the message Yu Xingyue had received.

Lin Zimo: “My sister and I came to the hospital to see Xiao Jian, but he’s gone. The doctor said he’s already been discharged, and I’m worried he may have been taken away.”

Rain Xingyue replied, “He’s already been discharged. I’ve sent him home. But now he wants to move out, and I’ve stopped him many times already. He just won’t listen. Xiao Jian doesn’t want to stay in that house; there’s nothing warm about it. But who would be willing to take him in? If he went out alone, how much discrimination would he have to face?”

At that moment, Lin Xiaoxin snatched Lin Zimo’s phone and sent a message to Yu Xingyue.

“Then come to my house. I’m home most of the time anyway. Even if my parents disagree, I’ll take him in.”

Lin Zimo wrestled the phone back and gave her sister a light rap on the head before apologizing to Yu Xingyue. “Sorry. That message was from my little sister. She grabbed my phone and sent it.”

“I think that’s a pretty good idea,” Yu Xingyue typed back. “If your sister is willing, then let him stay with you. If you don’t want to, I can understand. The important thing is whether you truly recognize him as your captain. He’s always been the one helping you. Now that he’s in trouble, you should help him. The rest is up to you.”

Lin Zimo hesitated. Letting a strange man into her home was no small matter. Other than her father, she honestly could not say how the others would react.

Then Lin Xiaoxin ran out. Lin Zimo did not know what was happening and hurried after her out of the hospital. It was inconvenient to shout inside, so once they were outside, Lin Zimo called after her, “Where do you think you’re going?”

Lin Xiaoxin looked back and shouted, “To help Xiao Jian, of course. He needs help now, so why should I just stand by and do nothing? Sis, I’ve noticed you’ve changed a lot. Ever since you got close to Yu Xingyue, your attitude hasn’t been the same. His legs are inconvenient right now. If we help him, maybe we can give him some warmth.”

“But...” Lin Zimo was about to continue. It was not that she did not want to help Xiao Jian; she was afraid her parents would not agree. If they refused, Xiao Jian would end up sleeping on the streets.

Lin Xiaoxin, who had been running ahead, stopped and turned around. Lin Zimo stopped as well. With tears brimming in her eyes, Lin Xiaoxin said, “Sis, you’re too focused on the outcome. Why not let him come to our house first and worry about the result later? What threat could a man with inconvenient legs possibly pose to us? If you don’t want to do it, I’ll go myself!”

Those words struck right at Lin Zimo’s heart. She really did care too much about the outcome. If the result was not what she had hoped, then she would rather not help at all. But Lin Xiaoxin had a point: what threat could a man with limited mobility pose to the two of them? The reason she hesitated was partly because she feared their parents would object, and partly because she was not yet prepared.

Grinding her teeth, Lin Zimo thought for a long time before suddenly running past Lin Xiaoxin. Lin Xiaoxin hurried after her. “Why are you running so fast? Are you trying to avoid this?”

If her sister really was that kind of person, Lin Xiaoxin would be truly disappointed in her.

Lin Zimo shook her head. “I’m not avoiding anything. I’m going to help someone in need. Right now he needs us, so we have to lend a hand. Come with me!”

She told Lin Xiaoxin to follow her, because she knew exactly where Xiao Jian lived.

As Lin Zimo and Lin Xiaoxin were on their way, Yu Xingyue stood quietly, lost in thought. Just now, he had considered that if Lin Zimo did not come, he would let Xiao Jian stay at his place instead. He lived alone too, and Yang Shuting was easy to talk to. But Xiao Jian had refused, saying that his homeroom teacher had already taken care of him and that he had owed Yu Xingyue too much kindness. He did not want to add any more trouble.

Since Xiao Jian would not agree, Yu Xingyue had tried several times more without success and could only give up. It was Xiao Jian’s choice; all he could do was respect it. After that, Yu Xingyue left, because he believed Lin Zimo and Lin Xiaoxin would come. What kind of people were they? He still did not know?

By the time Yu Xingyue was almost home, he saw Yang Shuting, Sun Yao, and Sun Ying all waiting there. He did not understand what was going on, until he remembered what Yang Shuting had said before about studying abroad. Then he immediately understood why the three of them were here.

That meant it was still not too late to back out.

Without another word, Yu Xingyue sat down and said, “You’re here to talk about Sun Ying studying abroad, right? I’ve thought about it for a long time. Going out to see the world isn’t a bad thing.”

“You’d better think it through,” Sun Yao said flatly. “Once you get there, if you regret it, that won’t be our fault. You were the one who insisted on Tokyo. If you’re afraid, you can still choose not to go.”

Yu Xingyue laughed, but the laugh was serious. “Afraid? Do you really think Yu Xingyue is the type to be scared? Uncle Sun, let me tell you something—my temper is one thing my mother never really understood. What could possibly make me afraid? Death, maybe?”

“Big brother, don’t talk about death,” Sun Ying said, clutching his hand. “It’s bad luck to say things like that.”

Yang Shuting said, “A little over a month has already passed. Is that your decision? If you’ve made up your mind, just say so. Making the three of us wait this long for an answer is far too late.”

Yu Xingyue took a deep breath. It was time to say what he truly thought—whether he was willing to go abroad with Sun Ying or not. At last, he answered, “I’ll go. I can’t let Sun Ying go there alone. With me there, she won’t be in any danger. Uncle Sun, rest assured—leave Sun Ying to this useless brat.”

Then he wrapped his right arm tightly around Sun Ying.

Sun Yao said, “All right. Since you call yourself a useless brat, then I’m relieved. You have five days to get ready. In these five days, do whatever you need to do. You can also say goodbye to your friends.”