Chapter 116: Therefore, I exist (2)
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Zhang Wubing wasted no time. Even while still in his hometown of Family Tomb Village, he had already arranged for the best private hospital in Binhai City to be on standby, ready for Yan Shixun’s arrival for immediate surgery.
Despite Yan Shixun’s injuries having undergone his own emergency treatment and been roughly handled by the emergency medical team from the official rescue squad, the wounds from the several openings on his body were not something that could be cured solely by talismans and first aid.
Zhang Wubing was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Although Yan Shixun managed to turn the situation around with a few words at the airport, easing the tension for both the production team and the official PR team, Zhang Wubing was constantly worried about Yan Shixun’s injuries, wishing he could rush him to the hospital on the spot.
It was only when Yan Shixun and the other guests finally left the airport that Zhang Wubing breathed a sigh of relief.
When the guests’ car arrived at the hospital, doctors and stretchers, prepared in advance, immediately rushed over, ready to receive the severely injured patient. “Where is the patient?”
Chief complaint: multiple penetrating injuries to the abdomen and lower back. If they don’t receive urgent care soon, the patient might not make it!
Yan Shixun was deeply asleep, the accumulated fatigue of the past few days overwhelming him, making it impossible for him to stay vigilant, his consciousness sinking into the depths like a deep sea.
Though reluctant to wake Yan Shixun, Ye Li looked at the doctors outside the car and knew this was Yan Shixun’s decision.
— Yan Shixun even wanted to control his own strength personally, how could he entrust complete assistance to someone whose abilities he didn’t know?
So, Ye Li extended his cold, temperatureless hand and gently cradled Yan Shixun’s warm cheek, his slender fingers lightly gliding over his skin with minimal movement.
“Shixun? We’re at the hospital,” Ye Li’s magnetic voice was low, trying to wake Yan Shixun naturally without causing discomfort. “It’s time for your surgery. The doctors are waiting for you.”
The guests in the front seats turned their heads towards the back in astonishment: “!!!”
Damn, who’s this guy? How dare he sit so close to Brother Yan? Isn’t he afraid of getting beaten up by Brother Yan?
Wait, when did this guy appear in the car? Do they know him?
Amidst everyone’s stunned silence, Yan Shixun’s eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes, still dazed from sleep.
Not the sharp and sexy demeanor he usually exuded, but a warm softness of someone still half asleep.
Ye Li had never seen Yan Shixun like this before. He felt like he might have been affected by the warmth of humanity, as his heart seemed to melt, turning him into a complete softie.
“Shixun? I’ll carry you out of the car.”
——His exorcist wanted to sleep, so he could continue sleeping. Who said living people had to walk on their own?
Ye Li wasn’t joking. With one arm around Yan Shixun’s back and the other ready to lift his long legs, he made it clear he meant business.
Exhausted and half-asleep, Yan Shixun’s body temperature was slightly elevated. Feeling the chill from Ye Li’s much lower body temperature, he shivered and started to come to his senses. Then he saw Ye Li preparing to princess-carry him.
Yan Shixun: ??? What the hell, is this guy crazy?!
Yan Shixun immediately got up, pushing away Ye Li’s chest, and looked at him warily.
Ye Li, ever accommodating, released him innocently, raising his arms as if to show he hadn’t done anything wrong. “The doctor is waiting for you. I noticed you weren’t responding, so I thought about carrying you over. After all, your injuries are serious, and we can’t afford any delays.”
Yan Shixun scrutinized Ye Li suspiciously, but Ye Li’s face was open and honest, not showing any signs of deceit.
…Was he being too sensitive?
At that moment, he heard the doctor’s voice outside the car, so he nodded at Ye Li and said, “Thank you, but it’s not necessary.”
“I don’t like people getting too close to me.” Yan Shixun glanced at Ye Li with a smirk. “Do you want to experience being killed in your sleep?”
One of the reasons Yan Shixun had refused to share a bed with Ye Li before was: “I’m good at killing people in my dreams.”
Ye Li smiled, his lips curling slightly. “How would you know if you don’t give it a try? Maybe I won’t like it.”
But Yan Shixun didn’t hear what Ye Li said afterward. Not wanting to keep the doctor waiting any longer, he had already opened the car door and started to step out.
It was An Nanyuan, sitting in the front row, who heard Ye Li’s remark. He immediately turned around with a horrified expression, looking at Ye Li as if he were a madman.
Ye Li lifted his gaze, coldly meeting An Nanyuan’s eyes.
With Yan Shixun no longer by his side, Ye Li immediately regained his usual air of unapproachable dignity. Just one glance was enough to send shivers down An Nanyuan’s spine, prompting him to instinctively jump out of the car.
Meanwhile, the doctors and nurses, who had been prepared to receive a patient too injured to move, were left utterly perplexed.
“The patient we discussed over the phone…” The doctor hesitated, unable to believe it. The nurse beside him kept glancing back at the open car.
Yan Shixun walked steadily to the stretcher. “It’s me.”
The medical staff: “…..?”
Brother, you look healthier than most people. How could someone move so freely after sustaining such serious injuries? It’s like a medical miracle.
However, after comparing the information from the phone call with the sight of Yan Shixun unbuttoning his shirt to reveal the bandages wrapped around his waist and abdomen, the doctor had to admit that Yan Shixun was indeed the severely injured patient they were expecting.
The medical staff looked at Yan Shixun with a mixture of awe and curiosity. It was as if they had witnessed something supernatural. Someone actually managed to pull it off.
Yan Shixun responded with a practiced smile.
：）
……
The news of the show’s return to Binhai City quickly spread on social media, bringing a sigh of relief to many anxious viewers of the program.
“Thank goodness, I couldn’t sleep last night, fearing something might happen.”
“If it were any other show experiencing technical difficulties with the live broadcast, I’d think the production team was irresponsible and careless. But for this show… Thank goodness! It was just a signal issue and nothing else!”
“I was so worried all night, glued to the main screen. When the live signal finally came back, I was nearly in tears of relief. Then I saw those photos from the airport showing everyone safe and sound. My heart finally settled.”
“I was glued to the main screen all night, didn’t give up even when it went black. When the signal came back, I was on the verge of tears. Then I saw Brother Yan covered in blood… Oh my god, my heart almost stopped.”
“I did too! That’s why I went to the airport early this morning to pick him up. It’s such a relief that Brother Yan is okay. And the best part is, I also got some perks along the way hehehe.”
“Brother Yan is satisfied and content, he can now die without regrets.”
“Same here, feeling peacefully lying flat.”
“Ahh~~ Brother Yan is so handsome, sob sob sob! It’s all my fault for being stunned and forgetting to take photos at the airport. But now I’m wriggling around like a maggot in my car seat at home.”
“……??”
“Oh, those who didn’t pick him up probably don’t know what happened at the airport. Right, those entertainment reporters were scared stiff by Brother Yan. They probably don’t have the guts to write nonsense. (It’s the first time I’ve seen Brother Yan use this kind of method to defuse the situation, so cool, right?!) Brother Yan took off his clothes today to prove he wasn’t injured! He took off his clothes!!! Those muscles, those lines, slurp~”
“!!! Holy crap, there goes a billion down the drain, sob sob.”
When the Yan Mais, following their usual habit, logged onto social media platforms to check in under the hashtag, they were greeted with a row of bright red letters on the homepage: “Brother Yan’s shirtless benefit!”
Those Yan Mai who didn’t participate in picking him up at the airport: “????”
It’s probably because Yan Shixun never cared about the entertainment industry before this, nor did he engage in regular self-promotion like other idol stars. So both the Yan Mai and the viewers of this show have gradually shifted from the initial excitement about Yan Shixun and the show to a more relaxed attitude.
Even the fans of other celebrities, whose names were dominating the real-time popularity rankings and who couldn’t stand Yan Shixun, came to provoke under the #Yan Mai# hashtag. However, the Yan Mais warmly engaged with them, regardless of what they said, enthusiastically promoting Yan Shixun.
#Are you a fan of Brother Yan? He can tell fortunes, exorcise spirits, and even make you believe in science [dog head emoji]#
#Ever since I became a fan of Brother Yan, my mom doesn’t have to worry about my interest in science anymore!#
#You subscribe, I subscribe, Brother Yan is opening up shop tomorrow!#
Other fans were left dumbfounded, brainwashed to the point where they couldn’t help but want to join the Yan Mai fandom and see what kind of guy he really is.
Aren’t other fans’ endorsements usually like “sings and dances like no other, outshining all others”? How come with Yan Shixun, it’s turned into being able to tell fortunes? What’s this, an idol with a mystical touch?
Realizing what they’ve just done, fans of other celebrities immediately fled in panic, claiming that Yan Mai is toxic.
Truly a landslide in the entertainment fandom.
But never in a million years did they expect that someone who never promotes himself would one day undress in public!
Exciting! [Even if it makes your nose bleed, still worth liking.jpg]
—Even though Yan Shixun only undid two shirt buttons, the Yan Mais chose to conveniently overlook that fact.
Perhaps it was because of the stark contrast Yan Shixun brought, that his popularity skyrocketed so quickly.
The Yan Mais, like a volcano that had been suppressed for too long, found their breakthrough. All their enthusiasm erupted in those few airport candid photos, and there was no stopping them.
On the real-time popularity charts, the hashtag #Yan Shixun undresses# rose a rank every time it refreshed.
The directorial team hadn’t even left the airport, and the hashtag had already shot to the top of the trending list.
It was a complete explosion!
In the hashtag, there was a high-definition close-up photo of Yan Shixun at the airport.
He lowered his gaze slightly, long and thick eyelashes casting a shadow over his eyes, a few strands of hair falling from behind his ear to his forehead, and a playful smile playing at the corners of his lips. With one hand in his pocket and the other on the shirt, his slender fingers were unbuttoning the buttons, revealing the strong and handsome chest hidden beneath the black shirt, teasingly half-exposed.
But it was even more enticing.
It made those viewing the photo want to reach out and help him unbutton that damn shirt button that was blocking such a magnificent view.
This was the epitome of temptation and allure, exuding rich hormones that made one’s blood boil. Yet, Yan Shixun seemed to have no idea of the extent of his charm. His handsome face showed no hint of such intention; he appeared so earnest, as if he were merely doing something mundane.
All the Yan Mais, even the curious onlookers, were as excited as if it were New Year’s, turning into rows of groundhogs in the comment section, screaming “Ahhhh!” like crazy.
A few marketing self-media accounts, unwilling to accept defeat, had initially planned to issue statements insinuating that the production team was irresponsible for concealing the true danger faced by the guests. However, they hadn’t anticipated that under the heat generated by Yan Shixun’s popularity, their statements would go unnoticed, as no one paid attention to them.
Even if they skillfully bought a large number of paid commentators to push the relevant hashtags to the top of the real-time trending list, those who clicked into the posts just sneered and thought the media outlets behind such articles were fools.
Are they kidding? If it were really that dangerous, how could Yan Shixun have appeared here, looking like nothing had happened at all?
Did you not see how big… no, how smooth… um, how well-defined Brother Yan’s chest muscles are in that photo? There’s absolutely no injury at all!
Yan Mais: Brother Yan’s muscles are the truth! So, can we unbutton a couple more buttons?
The media outlets were left puzzled, as the public opinion direction regarding the “Heart-Pounding Journey of Ninety-Nine Days” program team had been completely reversed under a single photo of Yan Shixun.
Even the official public opinion team didn’t need to intervene.
Looking at the situation, the official public opinion team had mixed feelings, unsure whether to be happy or not.
——After coming up with over a dozen crisis response plans, they never expected the situation to be resolved in such an unexpected way.
But as long as they got through the crisis smoothly, the outcome was all that mattered.
The head of the public opinion team smiled helplessly and reported back to the responsible person in charge.
Upon learning that the guests of the current program team were all undergoing physical examinations at a private hospital in Binhai City, many entertainment media outlets rushed to the hospital, hoping to snap a few photos.
You know, this is the hottest topic right now. Whoever can take more photos of Yan Shixun will gain a lot of traffic!
But there’s a reason why Zhang Wubing chose this hospital.
This hospital is the private hospital of choice for the Zhang family and other wealthy families. Besides having superb medical skills, they also place a great emphasis on privacy protection. Don’t underestimate just a few entertainment media outlets. You see, back when someone tried to assassinate a wealthy individual while he was hospitalized, they couldn’t even get past the hospital’s security system.
When it comes to Yan Shixun’s safety, Zhang Wubing doesn’t dare to be negligent at all.
By the time the production team had dealt with several matters, they immediately communicated and explained the situation to the authorities. Then, they rushed to the hospital, only to find that Yan Shixun’s surgery had already been completed.
When the surgeon walked out of the operating room, he still had a look of skepticism on his face—was this patient too obedient? And why did the blood just stop flowing like that?
Ye Li, who had been waiting quietly outside the operating room, immediately stepped forward.
“Family member of the patient?” The doctor didn’t think much of it, seeing Ye Li move faster than anyone else. Subconsciously, he took him for Yan Shixun’s brother or some other relative, while silently marveling at the strength of their genes!
Ye Li paused for a moment at the doctor’s assumption, then nodded naturally, without denying it.
The doctor also informed Ye Li of some postoperative precautions, as he would typically do for a family member he was already familiar with.
Ye Li listened attentively, his serious expression making it seem like he was accomplishing something more significant than the universe itself, even occasionally asking a few follow-up questions.
“Although the wound on the thigh was lucky not to have hit the artery, it still passed close to the bone. It’s important to be extra cautious in normal circumstances.”
The doctor couldn’t help but sigh softly at the end, “He managed to avoid all vital points. Such a stroke of luck, it’s as if even the heavens won’t take him.”
A cold anger flickered in Ye Li’s eyes, as if the doctor’s description reminded him of Yang Duo, who had caused Yan Shixun to be covered in wounds.
“Even if he dares to die, who dares to claim him?” Ye Li said lightly, then nodded to the doctor, a gesture of gratitude.
Rarely showing kindness towards anyone other than Yan Shixun.
The nurse beside, relaxing after the tension of the surgery, joked with her colleagues, “He looks kinda intimidating, but turns out he’s unexpectedly easygoing.”
Her older colleague, unfazed, replied, “Perhaps the person on the operating table was important to him. Saving the injured is like saving his world. Even the grumpiest person wouldn’t snap at medical staff who saved someone important to them. Besides…”
The senior colleague glanced at the figure of Ye Li, who had already walked away with Yan Shixun’s hospital bed, and pondered, “He doesn’t seem like someone with a bad temper. Rather, he looks like someone who’s accustomed to high status—probably from some influential family.”
In this private hospital, you could practically bump into someone influential just by luck. Having seen it all, he naturally could discern who shouldn’t be messed with, and knew who wielded real power.
“He’s really good to his brother,” the nurse admired.
“Brother?” The older colleague looked at the nurse oddly. “How can you tell? Those two seem like lovers to me.”
The nurse was taken aback. “Huh?”
“Definitely. That look Ye Li gave Yan Shixun just now, it’s the look of someone seeing their whole world. He must deeply love his partner.”
The less experienced nurse was already confused by her colleague’s remarks, but as a red-clad woman passed by the corridor, she glanced at the two medical staff with a complex expression. Then, she glanced at where Ye Li had disappeared, shrank back in fear, unable to restrain the deep-seated dread rising from her soul, and followed after him.
However… lover? That was just too absurd.
The red-suited woman, unseen by anyone, silently scoffed to herself: Even though she didn’t know who that person was, such a presence could never fall in love with anyone else, right? Especially someone who’s still alive?
……
When Zhang Wubing arrived at the hospital, all the guests had already completed their physical examinations. However, they weren’t staying in their respective peaceful and comfortable rooms. Instead, they were gathered together, chatting and laughing.
Even though they were dressed in hospital gowns, the variety show celebrity’s dedication was not affected. He was energetically describing to others what he had seen in his dreams.
Lowering his voice, he said, “Those decaying corpses kept staring at me in the woods. I wanted to run, but I panicked and ended up running in circles, unable to escape no matter how hard I tried. There was a dead deer blocking my path in front, and dead people chasing me from behind. And then…”
The guests held their breath, eagerly awaiting the continuation of the story.
“What are you all talking about? How is Brother Yan doing?”
The guests were startled, “Holy crap! AHHHHHHH!”
Zhang Wubing was also taken aback, “AHHHHH!”
Their miserable screams echoed from the ward, not only startling passersby and neighboring patients but also immediately attracting the attention of nurses outside.
Thinking there might be a medical emergency, a nurse forcefully pushed open the door, only to see several grown men howling at the ceiling like idiots.
The nurse: “…”
“Shut up!” the nurse shouted sternly, “What are you all doing? Are you werewolves? This is a hospital; don’t disturb the other patients’ rest!”
The guests suddenly stopped talking as if their necks were being squeezed, and they all turned their heads to look at the nurse at the door.
Then they saw Zhang Wubing’s figure, and it dawned on them—oh, it was Director Zhang who had spoken just now.
“Sorry, sorry, I thought there was a ghost standing behind me just now,” An Nanyuan quickly apologized. “Nurse, we’re sorry. You can rest assured, it won’t happen again.”
Zhang Wubing: “??? Are you saying I look like a ghost QAQ”
The nurse, seeing the guests’ pitiful expressions as they covered their mouths and pleaded, relaxed and just instructed them to “keep quiet” before leaving.
The guests finally breathed a sigh of relief, with lingering fear in their hearts. “Director Zhang is scarier than ghosts.”
Zhang Wubing：“？？”
Are you being polite?
Yan Shixun had already informed Zhang Wubing about the conditions of the guests and mentioned that only Lu Xingxing might feel uncomfortable for a few days. The others just needed to visit Haiyun Temple and everything would be fine.
And as the examination results confirmed, there was nothing wrong with the guests’ bodies. Lu Xingxing had a slight headache, and the doctor had considered prescribing some medicine, but Lu Xingxing refused.
“No need, doctor. This is not a condition you can cure,” Lu Xingxing’s tone was serious, not joking at all. “When my master arrives, he’ll burn a talisman for me to drink, and I’ll be fine. It’s my soul instability, not a physical injury.”
Doctor: … Hmm, add a brain CT scan. Suspect the patient has suffered a head injury.
But even though the examinations of the guests showed no issues, they couldn’t leave the hospital for the time being.
“Let’s wait a few days until the uproar about this show subsides and the public attention shifts to other matters. Then, everyone can move freely.”
Zhang Wubing said sincerely, “Otherwise, as soon as you step out of the hospital, there will be reporters and paparazzi swarming around, trying every means to get information about the show from you. It’s better for everyone to rest here peacefully for now. Besides, if any hidden injuries are discovered later, they can be treated promptly.”
The guests had no objections.
Honestly, even if they were allowed to leave, they didn’t want to go anywhere for the time being.
After the events at the Family Tomb Village, the guests all had long nightmares. They were chased by corpses, trapped underground unable to move, suffocated to death, kidnapped, and sold… Their dream experiences were bizarre and varied, but all too real.
It felt like it wasn’t a dream, but rather actual experiences.
Or perhaps… things they might experience in the future.
Many people working in the entertainment or creative industries have empathy and imagination far beyond ordinary people. Give them a hint, and they can imagine a whole scenario.
Moreover, this nightmare was so terrifyingly real.
The guests were all scared by their own imaginations, feeling paranoid. If it weren’t for knowing that Yan Shixun was nearby, which gave them some peace of mind, they would have felt like there were ghosts lurking in the shadows, silently watching them as soon as they closed their eyes.
Or perhaps, when they fall asleep, they will again be plunged into nightmares, and even those might come true.
But if they were at their respective homes, there wouldn’t be Yan Shixun to rescue them.
So Zhang Wubing’s proposal was actually welcomed by several guests.
Song Ci’s family wanted to take him away, but the young master got stubborn and insisted on staying by Yan Shixun’s side to report on the progress of the tasks assigned to him.
Song Ci’s older brother looked helpless and could only ask Zhang Wubing to take care of his younger brother more before leaving the hospital himself.
“It would be nice to chat with everyone. Actually, I also want to share my nightmare…” Zhang Wubing said, about to sit down next to the group.
The guests immediately exclaimed in fear and unanimously said, “Don’t say it!”
Having participated in three episodes of the program, An Nanyuan deeply empathized with Zhang Wubing’s painful experience.
He shuddered and said, “Director Zhang, it’s not that we don’t want to give you face, it’s just that what you’ve been through must be the most terrifying. We dare not listen.”
The variety show celebrity also nodded repeatedly, “I already had trouble sleeping. Director Zhang, if you scare us like that again, be prepared to see us die of insomnia.”
Zhang Wubing chuckled at their remarks. He had originally intended to lighten the mood and ease the tension of the few who were frightened by him.
Seeing that his purpose was achieved, he shrugged and said, “Carry on, everyone. If you need anything, just tell the production team. During your hospital stay, all expenses and necessities are provided by us. Don’t be shy. I may not have much else, but I have plenty of money.”
An Nanyuan glanced at Zhang Wubing with a sigh. “I finally understand why Brother Yan said you’re so ‘Humblebrag’.”
Even Lu Xingxing asked seriously, “Aren’t you afraid of someone strangling you one day, Director Zhang?”
“Not afraid, unless someone can beat Brother Yan.” Zhang Wubing laughed proudly yet provocatively, then quickly left before anyone could retaliate. “You guys chat, I’m going to check on Brother Yan!”
…
As the anesthesia wore off, Yan Shixun regained consciousness and felt as if someone was holding his hand.
He blinked, opened his eyes, and saw nothing but a sea of white.
However, unlike his usual view, the room was as clean as the white walls and furniture, devoid of any wandering ghosts or deathly aura, refreshing indeed.
Yan Shixun blinked, recalling his memory to confirm he was indeed in the hospital. He couldn’t help but wonder: What’s going on? Why is the hospital so clean? Did someone give it a thorough cleaning?
Hospitals were something Yan Shixun disliked the most.
When he was young and lived with his parents, he didn’t feel any different from others.
Out of dependence and trust in his parents, young Yan Shixun would eagerly share what he saw with his parents. A grandfather lying on the lampshade, a sister covered in blood hiding under the table, an uncle carrying an old grandmother on his back…
As Yan Shixun’s parents gradually realized that young Yan Shixun wasn’t just mischievously joking but earnestly pointing in a certain direction and saying spine-chilling words, they became increasingly alarmed.
And in hospitals, where there were many patients and casualties, the ghosts clinging onto their obsessions were even more abundant.
Young Yan Shixun was too small to understand why his parents would turn pale and hit him every time he spoke unsettling words in the hospital. But he remembered the pain, and he grew to dislike hospitals because of it.
Later, because of a fortune teller’s prediction that Yan Shixun would be surrounded by ghosts in the future, his fearful parents worried that Yan Shixun might harm the family and abandoned the still young Yan Shixun at the marketplace.
At that time, Yan Shixun understood his parents’ intentions very well, but he didn’t chase after them. Instead, he stood amidst the bustling crowd, watching coldly as his parents hurriedly disappeared from sight.
Until they were completely gone.
He had thought that from then on, he would have to fend for himself. However, a gentle young man squatted down in front of him and introduced himself as Li Chengyun, telling him that they shared a master-disciple relationship.
As childhood memories of hospitals faded away, new experiences overlaid his emotions, but Yan Shixun still disliked hospitals.
— There were too many farewells between life and death here.
Accompanying Li Chengyun to the hospital several times for his assignments, Yan Shixun could always hear the wails and cries of the ghosts around him. He had also witnessed the horrors of human nature that were even more terrifying than ghosts. Thus, he deeply loathed hospitals.
Later, as he walked alone, Yan Shixun had become accustomed to facing the intense and heavy emotions between life and death with indifference. However, his attitude towards hospitals remained unchanged, transitioning from overt aversion to a hidden disdain, though he showed no trace of it on the surface.
This resulted in Yan Shixun harboring a deep-seated reluctance towards hospitals in his life. He avoided them whenever possible, refusing to step foot inside unless absolutely necessary.
As the effects of anesthesia had not completely worn off, Yan Shixun, feeling mentally relaxed and somewhat dazed, was unusually prompted to reminisce by the white walls of the hospital room before him.
His fingers unconsciously curled and stretched, making a slight movement.
But the person holding his hand quickly noticed this subtle action.
“Are you awake?”
A deep voice with a hint of amusement came from beside him, “Seems like it’s the first time I’ve seen you fall asleep so defenselessly. I even got close to you, and you didn’t wake up. I don’t know if it’s because you trust me, or you’re waiting for me to wake you up with a kiss—there’s such a saying in the human world, right?”
Yan Shixun blinked his eyes, taking a moment to recall the familiar voice’s owner from his memory.
“Ye Li?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
Ye Li sat by Yan Shixun’s bedside, his cold hands holding Yan Shixun’s hand, his posture straight and dignified as if he were a general sitting in the command tent, ready for battle.
His demeanor was so graceful that even celebrities who had undergone specialized etiquette training would feel inferior in comparison.
But all the coldness and seriousness vanished in the instant Yan Shixun opened his eyes.
Leaning forward, Ye Li smiled and asked, “What do you want?”
Perhaps the anesthesia had affected Yan Shixun’s judgment. Words that he would never say casually came out today: “There’s not a single ghost in the room. Has someone cleaned it?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yan Shixun realized something was amiss.
He had learned to keep his questions to himself, but this time, it was as if he had returned to childhood, blindly trusting the person beside him and even mentioning what he saw.
Yet, Yan Shixun quickly realized that things were different now.
Because Ye Li didn’t show the panicked expression of adults from his childhood memories, signaling him not to speak out of turn.
Ye Li smiled and nodded casually, “Hmm, but it wasn’t cleaned voluntarily. They left on their own.”
His demeanor was unchanged, appearing as if he had only heard that some dirt had been swept away.
Seeing Ye Li’s natural demeanor, Yan Shixun’s tense nerves relaxed once again.
“What did you do to them?” He raised an eyebrow, turning his head to look at Ye Li. “Don’t tell me you’ve sent all those spirits away.”
Yan Shixun’s words were tactful, but he was actually asking Ye Li if he had indiscriminately killed all the spirits like some of their peers.
That was the last thing he wanted to see.
“I thought you wouldn’t want to wake up to a room full of ghosts,” Ye Li intercepted, replying, “Don’t worry, I didn’t do anything. They ran away faster than rabbits.”
Yan Shixun chuckled. “Looks like even Ye Li gets spooked by ghosts.”
He didn’t see any issue with it and accepted the answer gracefully.
After all, according to his guess, Ye Li was probably some kind of immortal who maintained eternal youth. It was only natural for spirits to fear such enlightened beings.
“Just now the doctor suggested you buy a lottery ticket after leaving the hospital. Lucky you, not a single vital spot was harmed.”
Ye Li looked somewhat resigned. “But, for a living person like you, it’s better to avoid certain injuries if possible. Next time, you can try handing things over to me. As I said, I’m your counterpart.”
“If you want to buy a lottery ticket, I can accompany you,” Ye Li said in a flat tone. “It’s just a combination of numbers.”
The implication of his words… Does he know the winning numbers for the lottery?
Yan Shixun looked up at Ye Li in surprise, his understanding of him deepening slightly.
However.
“Thanks, but no need,” Yan Shixun said casually. “Windfalls like that can drain one’s future luck. It’s not worth it. If I wanted to, I could figure it out myself. It’s just not necessary.”
“Besides, it’s not just luck.”
He chuckled, finding the doctor’s admiration somewhat amusing. “I know exactly where the injuries are, because I’ve calculated their positions. Do you think I’ve been dealing with ghosts for so many years without learning a thing or two? I still know how to make those trade-offs.”
Yan Shixun expected Yeli to laugh knowingly at his words.
But to his surprise, Ye Li’s expression darkened, as if suppressing anger, and his voice softened as he asked, “Have you always been so reckless in your battles with ghosts, Shixun? How many times have you been injured? Were there moments when no one else was by your side?”
Were you really alone, facing those excruciating injuries and dangers?
As he spoke, the tiny fluctuations in the air around them seemed to respond to some unseen command, swiftly surging towards Ye Li.
Ye Li looked ahead into the void, where scenes flickered rapidly like a slideshow.
Yan Shixun walked alone in the darkness of the night, leaving a trail of blood behind him. Yet, he did not stop, only tearing fabric from his clothes to makeshift bandages and continued onward.
His eyes were bright and sharp as he faced the surrounding corpses with nothing but a makeshift stick in a graveyard.
Yan Shixun, still Yan Shixun… In each scene, he was wounded, yet he remained alone, without Li Chengyun or anyone else by his side.
It seemed that after Li Chengyun left, Yan Shixun had been walking alone all along.
He clearly had Zhang Wubing as a friend, and many grateful clients who owed him favors. If he asked, those ghosts and people he had helped would be willing to assist him.
But still, there was no one by his side.
Ye Li’s Adam’s apple bobbed, a rare sense of sourness rising in his throat.
Though he had thousands of banners at his disposal over the centuries, he had always walked the realms of life and death alone, countless times witnessing farewells and separations. He had always walked alone.
Yet, after seeing Yan Shixun’s experiences and memories, he suddenly felt that this loneliness was unbearable.
It shouldn’t have been happening to Yan Shixun.
Ye Li’s gaze at Yan Shixun froze, his eyes fluctuating with turbulent emotions.
Originally, Yan Shixun didn’t pay much attention to Ye Li’s question. But after their eyes met inadvertently, he paused and said, “There’s always a price.”
“You should know, in the law of cause and effect, nothing happens without reason,” Yan Shixun smiled. “Wanting to exorcise ghosts and remain unharmed forever, isn’t that a bit too optimistic?”
“Don’t worry, I’m still alive, aren’t I? I know how to protect myself.”
However, Ye Li didn’t respond to his words. He tightened his grip on Yan Shixun’s hand and lowered his gaze. “No, you still don’t understand.”
As long as you ask, I will make sure you never get hurt again.
Whether in life or in death.
As the anesthesia wore off, the brain began to regain its normal thinking and perception abilities during their conversation. So, when Ye Li exerted a little force, Yan Shixun, who had just felt a bit sluggish, suddenly realized that his hand was still in Ye Li’s grasp.
“Are you familiar with everyone? Our relationship hasn’t reached the point where we can casually touch or use nicknames, right?”
As his consciousness returned, Yan Shixun resumed his more familiar demeanor to Ye Li. Without relaxing his vigilance, he withdrew his hand.
Following the doctor’s instructions, Ye Li once again deeply felt the fragility of human bodies. Worried that Yan Shixun’s movement might strain his recent surgery wound, Ye Li instinctively let go of his hand when Yan Shixun made a move. He calmly took a step back, creating a safe distance for Yan Shixun.
“Although not yet, we will be in the future.”
Ye Li straightened up slowly. “We have plenty of time to get to know each other. There won’t be any interruptions to our interaction…”
“Brother Yan? I just asked the nurse, and she said you should be awake by now. How are you feeling? Still in pain?”
Zhang Wubing entered the room, his mouth not stopping even before he laid eyes on Yan Shixun. “I begged my mom to stew some chicken soup, and she’ll send it over soon. You barely ate yesterday, right? I asked the nurse, and she said chicken soup is okay. Make sure to drink plenty when it arrives, Brother Yan.”
As Zhang Wubing looked up, he noticed Ye Li’s slightly stiff posture and Yan Shixun lying on the bed, seemingly smiling. Perplexed, he asked, “What’s going on? Did I say something wrong?”
“Ha!”
Yan Shixun said with a meaningful look, “Xiao Bing, raising a child needs a thousand days, but using the child only requires a moment.”
Zhang Wubing: “?”
Yan Shixun then turned to Ye Li and joked with a smile, “There won’t be any interruptions?”
Ye Li’s expression darkened.
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