Ru Yi opened his eyes — and the first face he saw was Jiang Hai's. The person he loved most, yet the one he had tried hardest to deny.
"Thank goodness he's safe," he breathed to himself. He couldn't lie to his heart any longer.
Jiang Hai offered a smile, but it looked bitter.
"Would you like something to drink? Let me get it for you."
He spoke softly, doing his best to draw Ru Yi's attention away from what he feared most.
Ru Yi shook his head. He stared at Jiang Hai, his gaze a mix of relief and confusion. Something felt terribly wrong — he could sense it in the way Jiang Hai carried himself.
Jiang Hai, who was usually so cheerful and shameless, now acted as if he were hiding something terrible. This wasn't like him at all — not the real Jiang Hai. Ru Yi knew him better than anyone.
"Li Feng and Ling Er?"
He asked, his voice thick with concern.
Jiang Hai's smile faded, growing sadder. He shook his head gently.
"They're fine. They've already gone back to duty."
Jiang Hai adjusted Ru Yi's blanket gently. In his heart, he prayed Ru Yi would stay strong.
"What's wrong with you?"
Ru Yi asked finally. He had never seen Jiang Hai so downcast. What had happened to turn the cheerful, shameless boy he knew into someone so quiet and heavy-hearted? He hated seeing Jiang Hai like this.
Jiang Hai only smiled and shook his head slowly.
"Nothing. Are you hungry?"
He tried so hard to sound bright — and failed.
"No. I'm not hungry. But I need some fresh air. It feels too stuffy in here."
Ru Yi pushed the blanket aside and tried to sit up. Jiang Hai's heart raced. He gently but firmly eased Ru Yi back down.
"You haven't fully healed yet. Rest first."
Ru Yi fixed him with a sharp gaze. He could feel something was being hidden — and he didn't like it at all.
"Are you keeping something from me?"
Jiang Hai fell silent and gently pulled the blanket back over Ru Yi.
"Jiang Hai…"
Ru Yi gripped his hand tightly. Jiang Hai stood frozen, unable to meet his eyes — terrified that his composure would crumble.
"Jiang Hai… look at me."
Jiang Hai didn't move. Ru Yi's patience finally snapped. He tried to swing his legs over the edge of the bed — and something was terribly wrong. Panic surged through him. He stared at Jiang Hai's bowed head.
"Jiang Hai…?"
His voice trembled — and that fragile sound shattered every last defense Jiang Hai had left.
Slowly, Jiang Hai lifted his face and gently cupped Ru Yi's cheeks. Ru Yi went perfectly still. His mind fixed on one terrifying thought: his legs. Why… can't I feel them? What has happened…?
"Everything will be alright,"
Jiang Hai whispered, his voice thick with sorrow, desperate to distract him.
Ru Yi pushed him away and tore the blanket right off. It fell to the floor with a soft thud. Jiang Hai stepped back, his heart sinking.
Ru Yi trembled violently as his eyes locked on his legs. They were there — uninjured — yet he couldn't feel a thing. Cold sweat broke out all over his body.
"No… this can't be…"
He struck his legs, hard, desperate to force some kind of response. Nothing. He hit them again, even harder — still nothing.
Jiang Hai moved quickly, pulling him into a gentle but firm embrace to stop him from hurting himself further.
"GO AWAY!"
Ru Yi screamed, shoving him with all his strength. Jiang Hai didn't budge. No matter what happened, he needed to stay right by Ru Yi's side. Even if Ru Yi hated him, even if he drove him away — he wouldn't leave.
"I said… GO!!"
"No. I'm not leaving you. Never."
Jiang Hai tightened his embrace. Whatever happened, he wouldn't let Ru Yi suffer alone.
"GO!!! I don't need you!"
Ru Yi sank his teeth into Jiang Hai's shoulder, biting down hard — pouring all his pain and frustration into it.
Jiang Hai bit his lip, enduring the pain — but his arms never loosened. Ru Yi was his. The one he'd longed for all this time.
"It's alright. Bite me as hard as you need. I'm yours. Do whatever you want to me."
He stroked Ru Yi gently, trying to ease Ru Yi's pain — at least for now. He prayed that one day, he'd be able to do so much more for him.
Slowly, Ru Yi let go — and wept, sobbing like a child into Jiang Hai's chest. He had never felt so broken and useless in his entire life. He felt worthless, good for nothing — especially to Jiang Hai. Everything he had was crumbling. His hopes, his future, his very spirit felt shattered.
Jiang Hai kissed Ru Yi's forehead — gently, lovingly. If your legs never heal, I will be your legs. I will carry you wherever you want to go. Until the very end. Jiang Hai made that vow, deep in his heart.
Two hours later, Ru Yi finally drifted off to sleep, his tears at last spent. His face bore the marks of exhaustion.
Jiang Hai laid him down gently, pulled the blanket up, brushed away the dampness from his cheeks, and whispered:
"Sleep well, my love."
He stepped quietly out of the room. Mu Zhe, Zhou Jun, and Ma Yuan were waiting for him.
Mu Zhe pulled him into a tight hug. He understood how deeply Jiang Hai was hurting — and his own mind drifted: What if it were Lulu? Just like Bo Ya. Just like Ru Yi. Just like Zhang Yiran…
"Mu Zhe… why are you crying?"
Jiang Hai asked, his voice steady but his chest aching beneath it.
"I'm not… it just… won't stop…"
Mu Zhe sobbed.
Jiang Hai patted his back gently. "Crybaby, as always," he murmured softly.
"Where's Lulu?"
Jiang Hai asked, turning his thoughts away from his own pain.
"Waiting for Zhang Yiran,"
Mu Zhe replied quietly.
Jiang Hai sighed heavily. So much, all at once.
Ru Yi… paralyzed — a truth too bitter to swallow. How would he comfort him when he woke? Bo Ya still lay in a coma, with no sign of waking. And Zhang Yiran… no one knew what had become of him.