Chapter 36 IF Scenario: A Thousand Layers of Tricks from a Childhood Encounter

The torrential rain pounded on the dirty cement ground, splashing up murky water. Chi Chen, his face still youthful, walked into the maze-like urban village, holding a long-handled black umbrella.

The air was thick with the musty smell and the earthy stench of rain. He carefully avoided the black puddles on the ground in his expensive sneakers, and a hint of annoyance and frustration appeared between Chi Chen's brows.

The decision to run away from home seemed particularly childish at this moment, but his youthful spirit prevented him from swallowing his pride and going back immediately.

Chi Chen could only wander aimlessly around here.

A dull thud, mixed with the boy's suppressed, broken groan, pierced through the noisy rain and struck his eardrums. As if possessed, he stopped in his tracks.

Chi Chen didn't consider himself a busybody, but the voice was familiar, so he couldn't help but look towards the source of the sound.

The rain washed over the yard, which was piled with clutter, leaving a muddy mess. He saw a thin boy wearing the same blue and white school uniform being slammed against the wall by the hair by a middle-aged man behind the rusty iron gate.

The man was burly and had a menacing look on his face. "You little bastard, where's the money your mother left you?"

The boy's back was eerily calm, and his bruised wrists were visible beneath his already slightly shortened school uniform.

"No... money." His voice was hoarse, devoid of any emotion, only a coldness and numbness incongruous with his age. "It's all been used to pay medical bills."

"Smack!"

The man's large hand slapped the boy across the face, and the boy staggered and fell, the mud and water instantly soaking half of his body.

"You're wasting my money! Go get it back! How dare you take money when the person is dead?" Seeing that the boy didn't react, the man kicked him hard in the stomach as if he wasn't satisfied.

The boy didn't make a sound, but curled up as if trying to relieve the pain in his body.

At that moment, Chi Chen saw his face clearly...

The rain and mud couldn't hide his astonishing appearance; his jet-black, soaked hair clung to his pale forehead, and half of his face was red and swollen.

But those eyes were dark and empty, like a cold pool, unable to reflect any light.

It was Xu Yan, Chi Chen's classmate.

He was from a different world; Chi Chen only vaguely remembered that pale face.

Chi Chen subconsciously took a step back... but those lifeless eyes suddenly looked at him, and the look was not a plea for help, but more like a stare without any expectation.

A sense of being slighted made Chi Chen's mind go blank for a moment. When he came to his senses, he had already pushed open the creaking iron gate.

The man turned around abruptly at the sound and saw a well-dressed, distinguished-looking young man. He stared at the man with hostility and said, "Who the hell are you?"

Chi Chen slightly raised the umbrella, revealing his arrogant eyes. "How much do you want?"

The man was taken aback, looked him over suspiciously for a few moments, then suddenly smiled knowingly, a greedy glint in his eyes, "One hundred thousand, not a penny less."

Chi Chen took off the mechanical watch from his arm and tossed it to the man without even looking at it. "Take this and sell it. It'll be worth more than 100,000."

The man hurriedly caught the watch. Even though he didn't recognize the brand, he could tell that the watch was exquisite. He quickly stuffed it into his pocket as if he were protecting his food, afraid that the other party would change their mind.

Seeing the boy bend down to help Xu Yan up, a smug and contemptuous smirk appeared on his face. "He's here for that face again? Just like his dead mother, all that slut. He's useless except for his face."

"Get out." Chi Chen felt nauseous upon hearing such an insulting remark.

The man, having already received the money, didn't care what Chi Chen said. He weighed his watch in his hand, turned around with satisfaction, and sauntered away into the alleyway.

Only the sound of the rain could be heard in the courtyard. Chi Chen suppressed his disgust for the man, squatted down, and looked at the boy curled up on the ground.

The school uniform was soaked and covered in mud, and the marks from belts and fists on the exposed skin were obvious and glaring.

Chi Chen reached out his hand, his tone gentler than he himself realized, "Can you get up? I'll take you to the hospital..."

Before he could finish speaking, the seemingly weak and exhausted boy on the ground suddenly found strength from somewhere, grabbed Chi Chen's wrist with one hand, and, to Chi Chen's astonishment, tilted his head up and leaned closer to him.

Before Chi Chen could react, his cool, wet lips pressed against his. His small, soft tongue, though clumsy, stubbornly probed into his slightly parted lips, mingled with the taste of blood.

The umbrella tilted, and icy water slid down her forehead, mixing into the kiss.

A soft yet unfamiliar flutter caused Chi Chen's pupils to dilate instantly, and his mind went blank.

Having had sixteen years of smooth sailing and never had any romantic experience, Chi Chen felt numb and powerless, as if he had been electrocuted.

There was a sense of unfamiliar rejection mixed with a touch of fresh excitement.

Chi Chen finally snapped out of his daze. He felt his rationality collapse and, as if triggered, pushed Xu Yan away abruptly.

Xu Yan's body was too light. With such a light push, he easily crashed into the wall pillar, making a dull thud.

Before he could even utter a sound, his eyes went glazed over, his head slumped to one side, and he lost consciousness.

The rain relentlessly lashed his pale, disheveled face; his eyelashes were tightly shut, and his lips were devoid of color.

He's unconscious?

Chi Chen stood frozen in place, panting heavily. The lingering cool, wet sensation on his lips was crystal clear. He shook his head and strode towards the unconscious Xu Yan, a wave of frustration and annoyance filling his chest.

"Tsk... How inexplicable." Chi Chen cursed under his breath, but it was unclear whether he was cursing Xu Yan for overstepping her bounds or cursing his own bizarre reaction.

He forced himself to calm down, and in the end, he could only take out his phone with a gloomy face and call the driver over.

Because of the forced kiss, Chi Chen was soaked from head to toe. He simply threw the umbrella aside, then bent down and pulled the boy out of the mud, half-carrying and half-supporting him to the slightly drier eaves.

Chi Chen didn't care about being dirty anymore and simply sat down next to Xu Yan to shield him from the cold wind.

This could easily lead to fever and hypothermia.

The waiting time seemed to stretch on endlessly, and Chi Chen's gaze kept lingering on his face.

Her eyelashes were so long and wet that they could hold a drop of water. Unconsciously, Chi Chen reached out a finger and caught the drop of rain.

His knuckles accidentally touched the other person's pale, almost transparent cheek, and the icy touch made him quickly pull his hand back.

Chi Chen looked at the empty courtyard and breathed a sigh of relief.

That's so strange, why would he like looking at a male classmate's face so much?

Yes, he just wanted to check if Xu Yan had a fever.

Chi Chen thought to himself... and silently took off his wool cardigan and draped it over Xu Yan's shoulders.

Ten minutes later, the driver finally arrived at the alley based on the location.

He rushed in to find his young master, only to find his rebellious, runaway young master wearing just a short-sleeved shirt, guarding the boy beside him.

Although surprised, he was also professionally trained, so he quickly stepped forward and said, "Young Master, let me help your friend into the car."

"Wait!" Chi Chen suddenly spoke up to stop him, his expression unusually serious, with a hint of awkwardness. "Let me do it, or you'll scare me."

After saying that, he carefully turned around, wrapped Xu Yan in his clothes, and picked her up in his arms.

It's so light, is it because your family doesn't feed you?

The driver touched his nose, wondering if he really looked that scary.

While Xu Yan was unconscious, she slightly curved her lips into a smile from an angle where no one could see her.

I've got you.

*

The private hospital room was quiet, with only the faint sound of Chi Chen fiddling with his phone out of boredom.

He looked irritable, but his eyes kept lingering on the pale figure on the hospital bed.

His mind was a mess. He tried to think about whether the two of them had any interaction at school, but he couldn't figure it out at all.

Xu Yan was like a quiet doll in the classroom, aloof and distant, keeping everyone at arm's length... So why did you kiss him?

Could it be that Xu Yan has been secretly in love with him all along?

After all, she has quite a few suitors, so it's not impossible that she might attract someone of the same sex.

His thoughts drifted further and further away, and Chi Chen unconsciously touched his lips with his finger.

That soft kiss, tinged with the scent of rain and blood, was truly extraordinary for a pampered young master like him, one he could never forget.

The sky outside the window had already darkened.

Chi Chen seemed to be saying to himself: "I don't like men..."

As soon as the words were spoken, the person who had been lying quietly on the bed seemed to stir.

Chi Chen looked over and saw that the boy's brows were slightly furrowed and his eyelashes trembled a few times, as if he had been disturbed by a nightmare. A few seconds later, his tightly closed eyes slowly opened.

His still dark pupils gradually focused and then looked at him.

Chi Chen jumped up from his chair as if he had been burned, almost dropping his phone.

He tried to keep his tone natural, abandoning his usual nonchalance, and asked, "Hey, how are you?"

Xu Yan seemed not to have reacted. He just blinked, his long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, and his deep eyes made Chi Chen's cheeks feel hot.

What a handsome boy, Chi Chen thought to himself, then suddenly snapped back to reality, his gaze unconsciously shifting away. "Um, why did you do that before?"

Only after he said it did he belatedly realize that he had made it sound like he was shyly asking the other person to take responsibility.

They should be angry.

Chi Chen frowned a beat late, trying to make himself look fierce.

But out of the corner of her eye, Xu Yan's eyelashes drooped slightly, like a kitten that had made a mistake and was deliberately exposing its soft belly, trying to look pitiful.

"That watch must be very expensive," Xu Yan said in a low, soft, and pleasant voice.

Chi Chen was taken aback, not expecting him to bring this up. "It's alright."

Xu Yan looked up at him, her eyes misty with tears. "I can't pay you back."

"Um... you don't need to pay me back." Chi Chen had never been looked at so pitifully before, and his tone became hurried.

His watch has a serial number and has been registered. The man will soon be caught as a thief, and the watch will be returned, although Chi Chen will most likely not touch the watch that has been touched by someone else.

However, for reasons unknown, Chi Chen did not tell Xu Yan about this.

It's as if if they say it out loud, they'll never have any more contact.

"No." Xu Yan propped herself up, and the collar of her already slightly oversized hospital gown loosened a bit with the movement, revealing her slender collarbone and a patch of skin covered with gauze.

His movements were slow, showing the weakness of an injured person, yet possessing a youthful allure.

Chi Chen felt a surge of hot blood rush to his head, and he couldn't help but take a step back.

Xu Yan took in the other person's helpless reaction. On her pale, almost transparent face, the corners of her lips curved slightly. "You've already bought me from him."

"Please don't leave me, Master."

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Author's Note: Dislike: A matter of control [thumbs up]