The tall man wore a stern expression, and Ye Zhizhou could only follow suit in an anxious silence. The late winter and early spring weather was not particularly warm, and he had rushed out without wearing much, just a thin jacket. The pavilion had wind coming in from all sides, and combined with his coat collar disheveled by a crane, a small gust of wind made him shiver from his back to his heart.
He discreetly adjusted his coat collar, hoping to prevent any more drafts. He awkwardly hunched his shoulders, avoiding the tall man's gaze, which seemed to be fixed directly on him.
"Xiao Zhou."
"Huh?"
More silence.
Ye Zhizhou turned to look at him, unable to understand what this young master was up to. It was their first meeting, and addressing each other so intimately as "Xiao Zhou" felt a bit too friendly.
Dongfang Shu watched his every expression closely, suppressing the urge to embrace him and asked, "What's my name?"
Ye Zhizhou touched his ear. "Are you asking me what your name is?"
Dongfang Shu nodded.
"Mr. Lou Qian," Ye Zhizhou furrowed his brow, and he casually reached into his pocket for a small mirror. After finding it, he hesitated for a moment and carefully said, "2 is a new type of medication that hasn't yet been officially mass-produced. Some unknown side effects might not have been discovered. Would you like to... get a detailed examination?"
Dongfang Shu's face darkened.
Ye Zhizhou's heart skipped a beat. What did Lou Qian mean? First, he spoke a bunch of nonsensical words, and now he was asking dumb questions, all while wearing a stern expression and a weird, eerie gaze. Brother Fang was right; this young master Lou was definitely mentally unstable... Could he leave the hospital today?
Dongfang Shu suppressed the intense emotions rising in his heart, lowered his head, and rolled his wheelchair, saying, "Let's go eat."
Ye Zhizhou snapped back to reality and didn't understand the abrupt change of topic. "Mr. Lou, what did you just say?"
"Eat, you're hungry." Dongfang Shu wheeled himself in front of Ye Zhizhou, grabbed his wrist, gave it a quick squeeze, and then quickly pulled his hand back. He lowered his eyes and said, "It's a bit cold here. Go back to the ward. I'll have Xiao Yi bring you some food and your coat. It's my negligence; I shouldn't have met you here."
The place where their wrists had touched still retained the warmth of the other person's fingers. Ye Zhizhou watched him in a daze as he wheeled himself out of the pavilion, then raised his hand to touch his heart. Strange, why did his heart suddenly race? Was it because of the cold?
[Scan complete. Residual toxins in the body, preliminary relief of genetic breakdown, require rest. Suitable pills: Detoxification Pill, Premium Bone-Washing Pill, Ten-Tonic Pill.]
Ah... He reached into his pocket again, suddenly feeling a sense of familiarity with this scene. "Little mirror, do I already know you... Did I forget you?" So many new habits, so many inexplicable thoughts and impulses, yet he had only lost a few days' worth of memories before and after the car accident... Could he really develop so many new habits and learn so many things he originally didn't know in just a few days?
Why did he instinctively reach for the little mirror in his pocket when he thought Lou Qian should get a medical check-up? And why did the little mirror, besides spouting nonsense, also have a function for checking his body?
"Xiao Zhou?"
The deep, pleasant voice no longer carried the initial restraint, but instead had a hint of caution and tenderness. He looked at the tall man waiting patiently outside the pavilion and took a step towards him. This person was so impolite and inexplicable, yet he couldn't find any reason to dislike him. It was quite strange.
Lou Yi brought a newly bought coat and a carefully prepared lunch from the kitchen into the ward, struggling to control his expression and not appear too foolish.
"I heard you had a car accident recently? Are you all recovered? Any lingering effects?"
"I'm mostly recovered, no lingering effects. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Lou."
"But I heard you lost a chunk of your memory?"
"Actually, the memories from a few days before and after the car accident are a bit unclear, not exactly amnesia. The doctor said it's a natural response to trauma, so you can only call it slightly blurry and confused memories."
"I see." Dongfang Shu tapped the armrest of the chair thoughtfully and then looked at his appearance carefully. Suddenly, he smiled. "Ye Zhizhou, you're very good-looking."
A smile from a handsome man is worth a thousand words, and Ye Zhizhou, who had gradually relaxed during the conversation, couldn't help but blush. He averted his gaze, feeling embarrassed, and replied, "Mr. Lou looks even better."
"I've been sketching your original appearance in my mind for a long time."
"Huh? Uh..."
"In reality, you're even better looking than I imagined. I like it."
"Mr. Lou... Can we talk about something else?" Ye Zhizhou's face turned completely red.
Damn! When did the big brother become so smooth with sweet words?!
Lou Yi turned his head toward the wall, revealing a shocked and twisted expression. Then, he quickly took a deep breath to regain his composure and turned back, placing the coat beside his big brother. While setting the tableware, he said to Ye Zhizhou, "Lunch is simple, please don't mind, Mr. Ye. I've ordered a nutritious meal from Yuan Su Ge. Please make sure to stay for dinner tonight."
Yuan Su Ge's nutritious meals were renowned for their health benefits, and it was indeed suitable for Ye Zhizhou, who had recently recovered from the car accident.
Ye Zhizhou felt a bit uncomfortable under Lou Yi's mischievous gaze and had an instinct to refuse the invitation. However, when his eyes met the gaze of Lou Qian on the opposite side, he inexplicably swallowed the words of refusal.
"My brother has a few small check-ups in the afternoon, so I hope Mr. Ye doesn't mind."
Lou Yi seized the opportunity, and after arranging the tableware, he glanced at Little Crane, who was cowering behind Ye Zhizhou's sofa, trying to get closer but not daring to. Lou Yi twisted his expression in silence, suppressing his desire to scream, and left the ward quietly.
Dongfang Shu naturally noticed the foolish younger brother's gaze, but he didn't mind. Right now, the person in front of him was more important than anything else. He picked up the coat and walked over to drape it over Ye Zhizhou, his fingers inadvertently brushing through his hair, giving it a gentle tousle before discreetly pulling back. He spoke warmly, "Your body needs to stay warm. Let's eat, and after that, you can rest."
His heart began to race again, and Ye Zhizhou nodded absentmindedly, feeling a bit dizzy. The gentleness of Lou Da Shao was... too enticing! No, he had to restrain himself. Even though he was gay, he was quite reserved!
Not long after finishing lunch, Ye Zhizhou fell asleep. Little Crane jumped down from the sofa, approached him affectionately, and then transformed into spiritual energy, merging into his spiritual sea.
Dongfang Shu gently placed him on the bed, covered him with a blanket, and kissed his forehead.
"Xiao Zhou."
The person in bed had already entered a deep slumber and wouldn't respond to his call. He smiled, then gently held the person in his arms, feeling the satisfaction of having his beloved in his embrace. He then retrieved the little mirror from the pocket and asked in a deep voice, "What's going on?"
After Ye Zhizhou's soul was expelled, Dongfang Shu and Tong Tian immediately took action. One protected Ye Zhizhou's soul while the other searched for a suitable body for reincarnation. However, neither of them expected that Ye Zhizhou would return to his own world after being expelled. Due to their inadequate preparation and interference from the Soul Banner, they both suffered some injuries. Moreover, the body they found was like an empty shell, with genetic breakdowns everywhere, making the repairs extremely troublesome. Additionally, their powers were suppressed by the Heavenly Dao, and under multiple influences, Dongfang Shu couldn't regain consciousness until the body started to improve slightly under the influence of "2."
After a brief silence, a childlike voice spoke, "The host's soul has been consumed by the Soul Banner, causing some damage. In addition, the severe injuries upon returning to this world have had an impact. The host and I are bound by a soul contract, so any damage to his soul also affects me. The Purple Void Space is closed, and I can't retrieve pills to treat the host's injuries. Regrettably..." Unfortunately, every time it was interrupted. Now it had to repair itself and ensure the stability of the host's soul, and accumulating power was not easy, yet it was interrupted every time.
The little mirror trembled as it spoke, and it seemed so aggrieved that it wanted to cry. "I'm sorry, Lord. I'm just useless..."
"It's not your fault." Dongfang Shu placed it on Ye Zhizhou's chest and gently touched his cheek. "It's my fault." If he hadn't acted on his own in the previous world... Ye Zhizhou had always completed tasks in a gentle manner. If it weren't for his concealment, Tong Jia might not have died, and there wouldn't have been an opportunity for the Soul Banner.
"It was my unilateral decision..." He hugged Ye Zhizhou again, and the long-held tension in his heart finally settled. In the past, it was he who lost his memory, but Ye Zhizhou never left him. Now that it was Ye Zhizhou who lost his memory, he suddenly felt somewhat fortunate. The memories of the previous world were too painful, and it was better for Ye Zhizhou to temporarily forget them.
Lou Yi stood outside the ward with a conflicted expression, wanting to remind his big brother that even if he liked someone, he shouldn't take advantage of Mr. Ye while he was sleeping. However, when he glanced at Little Crane, who was poking through the observation window and observing the situation inside the room with big, innocent eyes, he had to suppress all sense of right and wrong. It was a sin; was his big brother planning to forcibly seize their savior, Mr. Ye?
"What are you doing standing at the door of the ward?" Shao Feng, holding a fruit basket, appeared suddenly, punching Lou Yi's shoulder. "Step aside. I want to talk to your big brother."
Lou Yi was almost internally injured from Shao Feng's punch. He glanced at Shao Feng's strong physique, like a bear, and shook his head. "My brother is still unconscious. No visitors allowed. Please leave."
Shao Feng became displeased, set down the fruit basket, and began to crack his knuckles. "Lou Xiao Yi, are you itching for a fight?"
A brute! A barbarian! A person who doesn't follow reason! Despite the furious thoughts in his mind, Lou Yi remained polite and composed. "Mr. Shao, we're not acquainted. Please address me as Mr. Lou. Thank you."
Shao Feng sneered, bent over to open the fruit basket, snapped an apple in half, and offered half to Lou Yi. "Want some?"
This man was insane. Lou Yi firmly refused.
"If you don't want it, forget it." Shao Feng took back the apple and took a bite himself. He casually pulled out a document from his pocket and handed it over, saying vaguely, "It's the same when it comes to talking to you. Here, these are the compensations from the Shao family for intervening in the military's affairs this time."
Lou Yi calculated the potential benefits of the several items on the document and reluctantly nodded. He asked, "What did the Ren family give you to make you help Ren Qiao like this?"
Shao Feng raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh, now you're not calling her 'Qiao Qiao'? Weren't you protective of her before? You even argued with me for her."
Lou Yi found the past hard to look back on and wanted to shove dragon eyes from the fruit basket into Shao Feng's nostrils, maintaining a serious expression. He replied, "I was mistaken before. I actually thought that a little white flower had grown in the Ren family's messy garden. As for you, weren't you distant from Ren Qiao in the past? Why are you helping her now?"
"Do you think I wanted to?" Shao Feng's face soured. After devouring the apple in three or four bites, he discarded the core and wiped his hands, then impatiently said, "Forget it, let's not talk about this. I have a favor to ask you. It's about that suppressed Ye Zhizhou. Help me out, will you? This time, it's the Shao family's wrongdoing. After we repay the favor to the Ren family, I'll personally apologize."
The ward door was banged twice. Shao Feng looked at the semi-transparent Little Crane, who was glaring at him through the observation window. He furrowed his brow and said, "Is your big brother really in a coma? Why do I find it hard to believe..."
"Please leave." Lou Yi took a step to block the observation window and smiled. "You don't need to ask for my help. Ye Zhizhou is now a member of the Lou family. Any conflict between him and the Ren or Shao families is a conflict between the Lou family and the Ren or Shao families. We can settle the score slowly."
Shao Feng widened his eyes. "What do you mean? Is your Lou family going to embrace the enemy, Ren Qiao, and play a passionate love affair with her after being provoked by her? Is there something wrong with your brain?"
There's no reasoning with this guy. Lou Yi immediately threw a punch at him, and then kicked him in the butt. "Go away, go away. I can't stand you!"
"Tsk, you pretentious poser. Ditch those cheap non-prescription glasses; the more you wear them, the dumber you look!" Shao Feng steadied himself, casually patting the dust off his behind before retreating. "Look at your scrawny frame. If you can't make it in the military, you can always come to me. I have a bunch of positions that suit your image."
"Why don't you take a look at yourself first?" Lou Yi removed his glasses and ruffled his hair, shattering his refined and scholarly appearance, revealing a sinister and ruthless demeanor. "All height, no brains – you'll sooner or later get swindled by those politicians who devour people without leaving a trace. The Shao family is truly unlucky to have you!"
Shao Feng nonchalantly whistled, turned around, and waved his hand. "I'm outta here. Don't even think about me, you little fox."
"Missed you, my ass!"
[The likelihood of romance between Shao Feng and the protagonist has decreased to 50%. Please try harder, host.]
[The likelihood of romance between Fang Yixing and the protagonist has decreased to 0%. The first soul flag has been removed. Congratulations, host. Please continue your efforts.]
Ye Zhizhou's communicator suddenly began to ring loudly, and Dongfang Shu opened his eyes. Then, he and the awakened Ye Zhizhou exchanged a surprised look.
The hospital bed was very narrow, and the two of them were pressed close together. Ye Zhizhou sensibly noticed that something was amiss with a certain part of Dongfang Shu's body. His hazy consciousness instantly cleared up, and without hesitation, he kicked Dongfang Shu off the bed in anger, exclaiming, "Pervert!"
After an enthusiastic exchange of affection, Dongfang Shu's face once again turned dark.