Chapter 13: My Heart Beats For You (IV)

Previous Chapter ◊ Table of Content ◊ Next Chapter

Chapter 13: My Heart Beats For You (IV)

Ever since leaving Jiang Yumo’s apartment that day, Jian Chenfeng had felt that something was off with him. He constantly found himself paying attention to Jiang Yumo. At first, he had found the man unpleasant no matter how he looked at him; now, somehow, everything about him seemed pleasing to the eye. As for the injuries covering Jiang Yumo’s body, although Jian Chenfeng hadn’t managed to get an explanation out of him, he had sent someone to investigate and discovered that the man had actually joined an extreme sports club, participating in activities there every weekend.

Jian Chenfeng had long heard that Jiang Yumo loved fooling around, but he hadn’t expected this kind of fun. Worse yet, Jiang Yumo had signed up for practically every activity the club offered. No wonder he was always covered in injuries. Every one of those sports carried a certain degree of danger, and for someone bold enough to take risks before mastering the necessary skills, getting hurt was practically inevitable.

Jian Chenfeng was furious, though he couldn’t explain where the anger was coming from. He simply felt that this guy was taking things far too seriously, completely disregarding his own safety. Enjoying sports was one thing; deliberately seeking danger and thrills was another.

He had just received word that Jiang Yumo was riding a jet ski at Mirror Sea, so Jian Chenfeng decided to go see for himself.

The beach was bright with sunshine and brushed by a gentle sea breeze. Men and women in swimsuits were everywhere, making Jian Chenfeng exceptionally conspicuous as he walked among them in a dress shirt, trousers, and leather shoes.

Jian Chenfeng frowned. He disliked noisy environments like this. All the commotion scattered a person’s attention, lowered their vigilance, and sent adrenaline levels rising.

“Where is he?” Jian Chenfeng asked coldly, looking at Secretary Cui beside him.

“He should be right over—”

Before Secretary Cui could finish, a burst of excited screaming interrupted him.

Jian Chenfeng looked toward the sound and saw a group of men and women gathered along the shore, shouting excitedly toward the distant water.

He raised his binoculars and looked out across the sea. Several people were riding jet skis and kayaks. He examined them one by one until he finally found the person he was looking for.

Jiang Yumo stood aboard a stand-up jet ski, his upper body bent slightly forward as he cut through the waves like a swordfish. He spun, leaped, and sent great sprays of white foam across the surface of the sea. Then, with a sudden burst of acceleration, the jet ski launched high into the air. Jiang Yumo rose with it, suspended for an instant as though he were flying, his striking figure framed between sea and sky.

“Ahhh!”

Countless screams erupted from the shore.

Jian Chenfeng’s heart clenched. His burning gaze locked onto that soaring figure, and for a moment, he almost forgot to breathe.

More than ten minutes later, Shang Ke returned to shore after having his fill of fun. He flashed a brilliant smile at his cheering companions. Droplets scattered from his hair, sparkling beneath the sunlight as brightly as his eyes.

Jian Chenfeng suddenly found his mouth dry. Something called “desire” surged over him without warning, dragging him toward a forbidden abyss…

Shang Ke wiped his hair as he walked up the beach. His original reason for taking up extreme sports really had been to court death, but after experiencing them for himself, he had discovered that they were genuinely fun. He wasn’t afraid of dying and was willing to try almost anything, so he picked up the techniques quickly. He still couldn’t compare with genuine experts, but pulling off a few basic stunts was no problem.

Still, he couldn’t tell whether his talent was simply too good or whether his physical constitution was unusually strong. Despite trying so many extreme sports and constantly accumulating minor injuries, he hadn’t suffered a single serious accident.

“Jiang Yumo.”

In the middle of his wandering thoughts, Shang Ke suddenly heard a familiar voice.

He pulled the towel from his head and saw Jian Chenfeng walking toward him.

“Jian Chenfeng? What are you doing here?” Shang Ke asked in surprise.

“Passing by. Thought I’d watch you play on the water.”

The familiar excuse made Shang Ke roll his eyes.

“When are you finished? Let’s get something to eat,” Jian Chenfeng added.

“I’ll let them know. Wait for me a minute.”

Shang Ke took a shower, changed clothes, and then got into Jian Chenfeng’s car. Together, they headed for a restaurant.

During the drive, Jian Chenfeng said nothing and kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, as though contemplating some extremely serious matter.

After dropping the two of them off at the restaurant, Secretary Cui excused himself on the grounds that he had something else to take care of and left.

Jian Chenfeng and Shang Ke chose a table by the window, ordered their meals, and casually chatted about inconsequential topics.

Shang Ke had to admit that Jian Chenfeng was a very attractive man. Everything he did was pleasing to the eye. By now, the two of them could more or less be considered friends, and they usually got along quite well.

Jian Chenfeng had probably changed his opinion of Shang Ke thanks to Shang Ke’s food-based offensive. Shang Ke, on the other hand, had changed his opinion of Jian Chenfeng because he had recently discovered the mole in the man’s palm—the exact same mole Ravel had possessed.

Shang Ke suspected that Jian Chenfeng was Ravel, merely with a different personality and different memories in this world. Once this mission was over, he was definitely going to demand a clear answer from the System.

“Excuse me. I’m going to the restroom.” Shang Ke wiped his mouth and left the table.

Jian Chenfeng watched him walk away, an unreadable light in his eyes.

After taking care of his business, Shang Ke had just stepped out of the restroom when he caught sight of a familiar figure. The other person turned around, and surprise appeared on her face the moment she saw him.

“Jiang Yumo, you…”

“Jian Xin. What a coincidence.” Shang Ke gave her a broad smile.

Jian Xin took a step backward and asked in a trembling voice, “You followed me?”

Shang Ke froze for a moment. How had she suddenly jumped to the conclusion that he was stalking her?

Jian Xin continued, “Jiang Yumo, I already told you that I don’t like you. You planted yourself at my brother’s company, you keep sending me flowers every day, and now you’re even following me?”

Shang Ke’s expression sobered.

Should I desperately explain myself right now, or silently put on a wounded expression?

“Jiang Yumo, please stop pestering me!” Jian Xin grew increasingly agitated as she spoke. “Do you know that every time you show up, you make me extremely uncomfortable?”

Shang Ke silently reflected on himself.

Had he done something so unforgivable that even Heaven and mankind ought to despise him?

“Just leave me alone. I can’t afford to play these games with you.” Jian Xin clutched her chest. Her breathing grew rapid, and her complexion quickly worsened.

“Jian Xin, are you all right?” Shang Ke hurriedly reached out to support her.

Jian Xin didn’t appreciate the gesture and shoved him away. She staggered and nearly fell, forcing Shang Ke to step forward and catch her again.

“Where’s your medicine? Did you bring it?”

“N-No, I don’t need your help! Go away. Get out of my sight right now.” Jian Xin’s face twisted with pain, and even her voice was growing weak.

Shang Ke was just about to find someone else to help when an angry shout came from behind him.

“Jiang Yumo, what are you doing?”

Before Shang Ke could even turn around, someone grabbed his arm and yanked him backward. The back of his head slammed hard against the wall.

The person who had pulled him wasn’t Jian Chenfeng.

It was his own older brother, Jiang Donglin.

No wonder Jian Xin had been so desperate to get rid of him. She was probably worried he would ruin her date with Jiang Donglin.

Shang Ke pressed a hand to the back of his head, thinking hazily.

At that moment, an arm wrapped around his waist to steady him.

“Are you all right?”

Shang Ke looked up at the man beside him, his gaze slightly unfocused.

“Jian Chenfeng? Don’t worry about me. Go check on Jian Xin.”

“She’s fine.” Jian Chenfeng looked toward the other two. Jian Xin was leaning against Jiang Donglin, tears lingering at the corners of her eyes, but her condition had already stabilized.

Jiang Donglin helped Jian Xin upright and turned toward Shang Ke. “Jiang Yumo, you know Jian Xin is in poor health. Why did you still provoke her?”

“I…”

How the fuck did I provoke her? She’s the one with a persecution complex, okay?

Shang Ke was speechless. This time, he didn’t even have to pretend. His eyes were genuinely filled with sorrow.

“Donglin, don’t jump to conclusions before we know what happened.” Surprisingly, Jian Chenfeng—the actual older brother of the girl involved—was calmer than Jiang Donglin. He trusted the Jiang Yumo he had come to know. That man was definitely not someone frivolous and reckless.

He looked toward Jian Xin. “Xin’er, what happened just now?”

Jian Xin’s face was pale. She glanced at her brother, then at Shang Ke, and began to suspect that she might have misunderstood him. Lowering her head, she bit her lip and said nothing.

A trace of heartache flashed through Jiang Donglin’s eyes. He turned toward Shang Ke.

“Jiang Yumo, apologize to Miss Jian.”

Shang Ke gave the two of them a long look before letting out a derisive laugh.

“Why should I? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Jiang Yumo, I’ll say it again. Apologize to Miss Jian.” Jiang Donglin’s tone grew harsher.

“N-No, it’s fine,” Jian Xin said softly from the side.

Shang Ke stared straight at Jiang Donglin and enunciated every word.

“For the rest of my life, I will never give her the chance to hear an apology from me.”

With that, Shang Ke shook off Jian Chenfeng’s hand and walked straight toward the exit.

“Jiang Yumo, stop right there!”

Jiang Donglin started after him, intending to grab him again, but Jian Chenfeng blocked his way. Just as Jian Chenfeng was about to speak, a sudden thud sounded behind them, followed by Jian Xin’s scream.

Jian Chenfeng and Jiang Donglin turned at the same time.

Jiang Yumo was lying unconscious on the floor…

……

…

“What happened?” Xu Qing asked while examining Shang Ke.

“I don’t know. He suddenly collapsed.” Jiang Donglin was equally bewildered.

“Did anything unusual happen before he lost consciousness?” Xu Qing continued. “Dizziness, stiffness in his limbs, any kind of impact?”

“Impact?” Jiang Donglin paused. “I pulled him backward earlier, and he hit the wall.”

Xu Qing’s gaze sharpened. “Which part of him hit it?”

“This…” Jiang Donglin frowned. At the time, all his attention had been on Jian Xin. He hadn’t noticed.

“The back of his head,” Jian Chenfeng answered from beside him.

Xu Qing fixed his gaze on Jian Chenfeng. “You’re sure?”

Jian Chenfeng nodded, his expression growing grave as he began to sense that something was seriously wrong.

“Damn it,” Xu Qing cursed under his breath. He immediately ordered the nurses to transfer Shang Ke to the neurology department. Xu Qing was a surgeon; this wasn’t his specialty.

“Xu Qing, what’s wrong with Yumo?” Jiang Donglin asked in confusion. “Why do you look so worried?”

He was certain that Yumo hadn’t struck the wall that hard. At worst, it should only have been a concussion, right?

Xu Qing pushed his glasses up his nose, regaining some of his usual coolness.

“I’m not worried. If even his own older brother isn’t worried, why should I be?”

“You seem to be implying something.” Jiang Donglin stared at him.

Xu Qing’s lips curved into a cold smile.

“Looks like that brat really didn’t tell any of you the truth.”

“What truth?”

Xu Qing turned toward Jiang Donglin and said evenly:

“He has a brain tumor.”

Jiang Donglin’s and Jian Chenfeng’s expressions changed simultaneously.

Xu Qing apparently didn’t think the shock was strong enough, because he added coldly, “You’d better pray that blow to the back of his head hasn’t caused any serious complications. Otherwise, even the best neurosurgeon in the world may not be able to save his life.”

Previous Chapter ◊ Table of Content ◊ Next Chapter