Jiang Xu rarely heard Gu Li's voice so low. "What's wrong, Gu Li?" What illness could have affected someone like this?

Gu Li continued staring at the ceiling. "Emotional disorder, is that what it's called? You can't say I lied to you, okay? I really forgot and that's why I didn't tell you. You can't let...

Jiang Xu sensed Gu Li's unease. "No, I didn't notice anything wrong with you at all?"

Gu Li turned her head to look at Jiang Xu, her eyes filled with a hint of expectation and unease, "Really?"

Jiang Xu: "Hmm, not at all."

Gu Li said, "I knew it," his tone rising slightly before he looked up at the ceiling again, "but I really do have this illness." His voice trailed off again just as he was starting to feel better.

Jiang Xu grabbed Gu Li's shoulders and pulled her to face him, saying, "I'm not as good-looking as that ceiling. You look at me once, but you look at it so many times."

Gu Li was surprised by Jiang Xu's actions and even more surprised by Jiang Xu's words. He subconsciously looked at the ceiling again.

Jiang Xu said with a look of sudden realization, "You watched it again, I know now, you did it on purpose, didn't you?"

Gu Li looked at Jiang Xu and decisively denied it, saying, "I didn't."

Jiang Xu, "Why is that?"

Gu Li hadn't thought of what to say when he felt his face being cupped. Jiang Xu and Gu Li's foreheads were touching. "Then you must need me to coax you, right, Brother Li?" His voice was low, and it did have a coaxing tone to it.

Gu Li blushed for no reason, but didn't struggle. He just looked at Jiang Xu, who was very close to him, and said, "Yes, I need you."

Jiang Xu said, "Okay," he gently rubbed Gu Li's face, "then look at me and talk, okay? That way I can hear and see more clearly." He wanted to be able to tell if she was secretly sad behind his back.

Gu Li pulled Jiang Xu's wrist, drawing his hand away from his face. He quickly reached out and touched Jiang Xu's face as well, then withdrew his hand and grasped Jiang Xu's hand directly. "Of course, that's fine."

“Then let’s talk about that year I mentioned before,” Gu Li said after thinking for a moment. “Last time it took me a year to get out, but this time it only took a week. Let me test you. What does that mean?”

Jiang Xu: "Please go ahead, Teacher Gu."

Gu Li said, "Since you're so eager to learn, I'll just tell you the answer directly. It means I've gotten stronger, while he's gotten weaker." He paused for a moment, then decided to emphasize, "My old father's methods have also become outdated."

Jiang Xu said, "Yeah, you're getting better and better." He really wanted to pinch Gu Li's nose; he loved seeing this guy's smug little face. But there were some questions he had to ask. "You didn't tell me last time, so could you tell me the specific methods you used this time?"

Gu Li's hand clenched unconsciously. Jiang Xu felt it and gently stroked the back of Gu Li's hand with his thumb in a reassuring gesture, "Next time..."

Gu Li's hand relaxed a little. "No need. I want to make things clear to you all at once, so I don't leave this unpleasant matter for next time. I'm just thinking about how to put it simply and clearly. I've thought it through now."

“I’ve seen all sorts of experts and doctors, from palliative care at the beginning to radical treatment later. I’ve taken all sorts of medications. I only get acupuncture occasionally, but every time it’s quite stimulating. And then there’s,” Gu Li’s voice trailed off, pausing for a long time before speaking again, “hypnosis.”

Jiang Xu's brows furrowed more and more as he listened, until finally, at the very end, "Hypnosis." His voice suddenly rose, "Why?"

Gu Li said, "Let's find something that they think is abnormal. I suspect they're not very professional and can't see anything. All they know is to say, 'I'm in serious condition and need medication, otherwise it will cause harm.'"

Jiang Xu: "What harm? I think they are quite harmful."

Gu Li: "You're so siding with me, don't you even listen to the dangers?"

Jiang Xu: "Am I not siding with my partner, but with them?"

“Yes,” Gu Li’s eyes swelled up, “They should side with me, and they should continue to side with me.”

Jiang Xu: "Yes, everyone's on your side."

Gu Li said, “I’m on your side too, so I have to tell you about the harm they think it is. Actually, I’ve said it before. I took care of those people who bullied my brother back then.” He recalled, “In a bloody way, so that they couldn’t even lie peacefully in the hospital. They have to remember their wrong methods. It was the kind of scene that couldn’t be shown in a TV series.”

Jiang Xu looked at Gu Li's lowered eyes and heard the seemingly nonchalant tone in Gu Li's voice, "Using violence to fight violence, huh? Cool, my brother."

Gu Li was suddenly pulled out of his memories. He realized that Jiang Xu was trying to stir up his emotions, and he could indeed do so. "You are my brother," he replied to Jiang Xu with a smile.

Jiang Xu: "Hey, little brother, be good."

Gu Li, “You got the benefit,” he sighed, feigning regret. “My actions were indeed quite harmful to those people, but there’s nothing I can do. I’d do it again if it happened again.”

“Yes,” Jiang Xu looked at Gu Li with a determined gaze, “I’ll work with you next time.”

Gu Li leaned closer and touched noses with Jiang Xu, saying, "I was wondering why I'm liking you more and more. You're really my darling."

Jiang Xu felt the lingering touch on the tip of his nose. "You're so good at talking, my darling."

Gu Li said, “It’s alright, it’s alright.” He looked at Jiang Xu and said, “Actually, it’s nothing much. I just went to that place for another week, took some medicine that didn’t work, and then flew here to see you.”

Jiang Xu teased, "Flying too fast, you got soaked, didn't you?" Then he asked seriously, "What medicine have you been taking?"

“No,” Gu Li smiled and looked at Jiang Xu. “When I left a year ago, the medication was no longer effective for me. It only helped occasionally. Now, I don’t need it at all.”

Gu Li stared intently at Jiang Xu. "It might sound like something out of an idol drama, but it really is because of you," he tapped Jiang Xu's hand with his fingertip. "Do you believe me?"

Jiang Xu said, "I would never believe anything else, but I can only believe you."

Gu Li, "Is it really that difficult?"

Jiang Xu: "No one believes my sincere words, I'm devastated."

Gu Li looked at Jiang Xu and said, "You're quite the talker too." His expression changed and he became serious as he said to Jiang Xu, "You believed my threat before I even had a chance to use it."

Jiang Xu asked, "What threat?" As soon as he finished speaking, he felt the clasped hands begin to struggle. He relaxed a little, and Gu Li moved away a bit and then stopped moving.

Gu Li just looked at the person and said, "This is how you threaten someone."

Jiang Xu felt a tickle in his palm, then pressed a finger against it. He looked down, wanting to let go and take a look, when Gu Li's voice rang out again, "Don't move, or I'll shoot."

His words were full of laughter, like a child holding a toy who had found another playmate, and he believed that the other person would definitely play with him.