Chapter 29
Rongxiang's body was perhaps somewhat weakened; the wounds in his mouth took half a month to fully heal. During this time, he could only survive on liquid food. The cook prepared nourishing soups for him every day, which caused him to have frequent nosebleeds. Fu Jingyuan stayed by his side all day, expecting that after suffering such a great loss, he would not let it go and would definitely make a scene to get revenge. Who knew that after he woke up that day, he was like an old monk who had seen through the world, appearing completely unconcerned. He didn't mention revenge at all, let alone seek it. He just lay there with his eyes half-closed, seemingly asleep all day. Fu Jingyuan saw his strangely obedient behavior and couldn't help but go over and bend down to hug him. Only then did he twist his waist and give a very flat hum.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Fu Jingyuan asked anxiously.
Rongxiang's eyes darted around slightly under his eyelids, then he mumbled in his throat, "My butt hurts!"
Fu Jingyuan dared not laugh: "Does it still hurt? Should we apply some more medicine?"
Rong Xiang remained calm, his indifference bordering on shrewdness: "Whatever."
Fu Jingyuan turned around and closed the door, then got into bed and pulled down Rong Xiang's pants. The silk pajama bottoms were pulled down to his knees, revealing his snow-white buttocks. Fu Jingyuan knew that these were a man's buttocks, nothing special, he had them too. But when he touched them, the soft, fleshy feel made him blush suddenly.
Gently prying open Rong Xiang's thighs, Fu Jingyuan squeezed ointment onto his fingertips and tentatively applied it to the swollen vulva. Fu Jingyuan felt pain for Rong Xiang, but Rong Xiang remained unmoved. Fu Jingyuan believed that even if he took him right now, Rong Xiang wouldn't even open his eyes to look at him.
We really can't let this drag on any longer, or this person will be ruined.
On the day Rongxiang was given the abstinence needles, the person involved was initially kept in the dark.
This was all an idea that Seryozha and Fu Jingyuan came up with. They knew that Rong Xiang himself had no intention of getting the abstinence needles and had an extreme fear of them. Rather than telling him beforehand and making him anxious and causing trouble, it was better to keep it from him and then act according to his reaction when he was in the hospital. In short, this was something that had to be done; sooner or later, he would have to suffer this pain.
Rong Xiang sat in the car, completely bewildered, thinking it was just a routine health check-up. Even when they arrived at the hospital entrance, he was still dozing off. Xiao Meng didn't come along because Fu Jingyuan couldn't stand him. If Rong Xiang hadn't been so attached to this servant he'd trained since childhood, he would have sent this nameless fellow far away.
The two sat side by side in the back seat. Fu Jingyuan had specially arranged for Rongxiang to wear a long robe and mandarin jacket today. Because the material was silk, smooth and soft, it felt comfortable against his skin. Rongxiang's skin had become very prone to chafing, but he didn't feel pain. His mother, who bathed him, was too careless to notice. It was Xiao Meng who discovered a patch of redness and swelling under his armpit that day, almost festering. She quickly cleaned it and applied medicine, but it didn't improve.
Sheryosha had instructed him beforehand not to let Rongxiang eat breakfast that day. So, in the car, Fu Jingyuan kept rubbing Rongxiang's stomach, feeling that it was flat and worried that he was hungry. Although he knew that Rongxiang hadn't known what hunger or satiety was for a long time.
When they arrived at the hospital, Rong Xiang was still very quiet. Xie Liaosha first took his blood pressure as usual, and then looked at his eyes and tongue. He then looked up at Fu Jingyuan and said, "Mr. Rong's throat is a little inflamed and he needs an anti-inflammatory injection."
Fu Jingyuan quickly turned to Rong Xiang, lifted one of his arms, and said softly while rolling up his sleeve, "It's an anti-inflammatory injection; his throat is swollen."
Rong Xiang glanced at him, and as Xie Liaosha placed the needle on his upper arm and the needle pierced his skin, he suddenly turned his head and smiled at Fu Jingyuan, his lips curving up softly to reveal a set of fine white teeth: "Why are you all sweaty?"
He was smiling, but his voice trembled and was cold.
Fu Jingyuan smiled and reached out to touch Rong Xiang's head. It was freshly shaved, so short that only a layer of black stubble remained. Rong Xiang usually hated this kind of country boy hairstyle, and this time was no exception. However, he only lazily frowned slightly, indicating his dissatisfaction. The head in his hand was warm and a little fluffy. Because the hair was fine and soft, even if it was cut short, it wouldn't prick his hand.
As he watched the anesthetic being slowly injected into his body, Fu Jingyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He slowly slid his hand to the back of his neck. His neck was extremely thin. Fortunately, there was a small stand-up collar to cover it up. Otherwise, it would look like a thin neck supporting a bald head.
After the injection, Seryozha stood up and, under the pretense of calling the nurse to tidy up the injection equipment, winked at Fu Jingyuan. Fu Jingyuan understood and started chatting with Seryozha about various things. Rong Xiang sat blankly to one side, seemingly lost in thought. Suddenly, he swayed, and Fu Jingyuan quickly steadied him, thinking that the medicine had finally taken effect. Just as he was about to continue his casual conversation with Seryozha, Rong Xiang grabbed his arm, a bright light flashing in his clear eyes: "This isn't an anti-inflammatory injection!"
Fu Jingyuan was taken aback, then laughed and said, "Are you tired of sitting? Let's go home right away, okay?"
Rong Xiang's face turned pale, and his lips seemed to tremble slightly, but he gritted his teeth and said, "I...I still have something to say to you, please give me a little more time..."
Fu Jingyuan put his arm around Rong Xiang's shoulder, his voice filled with a frank and open smile: "There's plenty of time to go home, no need to rush." But a thought struck him. Rong Xiang clearly knew his intentions, but what was he going to say to him? They had been together for so long, what was he hiding?
"No... Jingyuan, you..." At this point, Rongxiang's body suddenly leaned backward and he fell into a coma.
The nurse next to him was a large, white woman with her white sleeves rolled up. She stretched out her thick arms, muttered something under her breath, and pulled Rong Xiang out of Fu Jingyuan's arms, dragging him to a wheelchair.
Seryozha stood up, nodded to Fu Jingyuan, and said, "Have Sarah take him to a soundproof treatment room. You can rest assured."
Fu Jingyuan stood up as well, watching as the mountain-like Sarah pushed Rongxiang out, wishing he could follow: "Um... there shouldn't be any problem, right... his health has been alright lately..."
Seryozha stood with his back to the large window. In the sunlight, his white face appeared somewhat ethereal, and even the short golden beard on his chin seemed to glow transparently. Only his voice remained real: "Mr. Fu, if you are a religious person, then you can go and pray these days, asking for God's favor."
Fu Jingyuan silently wiped the cold sweat from his palms onto his trousers.
"Yes," he replied with a wry smile.
Seven days felt like seven years.
Starting the next day, Fu Jingyuan became somewhat hysterical. He stood at the door of the treatment room, which had no glass windows, so he had to listen intently to what was happening inside. For several hours, he didn't change his position.
He couldn't care about anything else; all he thought about was Rongxiang. Then, on the sixth day, one of the family's sons came running breathlessly to the hospital: "Second Master, an old maid from the North City Mansion came, saying that Madam Rong is having a difficult childbirth!"
Fu Jingyuan slowly raised his head, his mind a little blank, and asked in a daze, "Huh?"
"Madam Rong, the one who lives in the mansion in the north of the city, the one who's heavily pregnant!" The young servant, still a teenager, was panting and spoke incoherently. He then gestured to his stomach to indicate that he was heavily pregnant: "She had a difficult labor and was taken to the hospital!"
Fu Jingyuan touched his ashen face, finally realizing what was happening, and immediately became anxious: "What happened to her?"
"The old woman says it's a difficult childbirth. She wants you to go and take a look, Second Master."
Without a second thought, Fu Jingyuan started walking. After taking three steps, he turned back, hesitated for a moment, called over a servant, whispered a few instructions, and then continued walking out.
As he reached the stairwell, he suddenly seemed to hear an extremely shrill scream coming from the treatment room, which made him shudder. When he listened intently again, there was nothing there; the empty corridor was completely silent.
With a determined look, he lifted his foot and continued walking forward.
The old woman was frantic. Seeing him was like seeing a savior. She cried and gestured, "Oh, Second Master, Madam Rong gave birth yesterday. The midwife couldn't do anything, and we couldn't find you. Now she's in serious trouble! The doctor asked whether to save the baby or the mother, but how can I make that decision... Second Master, please go and see! It's a real breech birth, the bleeding is terrible..."
Fu Jingyuan felt a buzzing in his head and stumbled out the door in a daze: "Which hospital? Take me there quickly!"
On the way, he began to feel a headache. Jishi Hospital in the north of the city was not far, but he was so anxious that he wished he could grow wings and fly there.
Yan Guanglin was lying in a private delivery room. According to the rules, men were not allowed to enter to visit. But when Fu Jingyuan arrived, this rule no longer applied to him.
The baby was indeed born, and it was said to be a little monkey that didn't even have the strength to cry. It was sent to the nursery for observation.
Yan Guanglin was completely enveloped in the snow-white bedding, her face and lips pale. The nurses wheeled her into the private ward. Fu Jingyuan stood dumbfounded at the door, then suddenly sensed someone beside him. He turned around and saw a man dressed as a doctor.
The man knew that this disheveled-looking Master Fu was someone important, and fearing that the woman giving birth was his mistress, he was extremely anxious. He stammered, trying to explain and comfort her: "Well... we really did our best, but when this lady was brought here, she had already lost too much blood due to the long delay, and her body was extremely weak. So, despite our best efforts to treat her, it was... too late. We..."
Fu Jingyuan cleared his throat and asked, "Is she... going to... die?"
The doctor smiled and nodded hurriedly, but then suddenly realized that this was not the time to smile, so he quickly frowned and pretended to be sad.
Fu Jingyuan waved his hand, then floated into the room and sat on the folding chair by the bed.
He grasped Yan Guanglin's right hand, which was placed by the bedside; it was damp and cold.
"Kourin."
He called softly.
Yan Guanglin was still conscious. Her eyelashes trembled like the wings of a dying butterfly as she opened her eyes.
"You've arrived?"
Fu Jingyuan nodded, his breath ragged and unable to speak. He gripped her hand tightly, wishing he could transfer his life force to her, like a swordsman passing on internal energy in a storyteller's tale.
Yan Guanglin's expression softened a bit, and a glimmer of light seemed to appear in her eyes: "Why...why are you like this?"
Fu Jingyuan opened his mouth, his mind gradually clearing, and stroked the stubble on his chin: "I've been a bit busy these past few days. I've neglected you and haven't taken good care of you."
"My child, is he alive?"
Fu Jingyuan nodded enthusiastically: "He's lively and energetic. I'll go get someone to bring him over for you to see!" After saying that, he looked up at the door, and the doctor turned around and said: "I'll go to the nursery to bring the baby over."
Yan Guanglin showed a relieved expression: "Is it a man or a woman?"
Fu Jingyuan was stumped by the question: "I haven't seen it yet."
Yan Guanglin nodded, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. Fu Jingyuan didn't know this was called a final burst of energy before death, and he was secretly relieved, thinking that Guanglin was probably quite healthy, so the doctor's assessment was far too pessimistic. Looking at her like this, she certainly wasn't going to die.
Besides, women all give birth; why should they risk their lives just to have a child?
"I wonder who the child will resemble," Yan Guanglin sighed. After giving birth, she seemed to have shrunk a bit, looking much more delicate. Fu Jingyuan thought that as long as she took good care of herself and rested, she should be able to return to her previous beautiful appearance.
Fu Jingyuan thought that since you two are both good-looking, he blurted out, "It doesn't matter who you look like."
"Be like me, not like Ruige."
Fu Jingyuan paused for a moment, then remembered that Ruige was Rong Xiang's courtesy name, and smiled: "He's not bad-looking either. Of course, girls should look like you." After saying that, he suddenly felt a little strange and his feelings were complicated.
"He's unlucky."
Fu Jingyuan smiled wryly: "I think it's his own problem. By the way, he's quit needles."
A smile seemed to flash across Yan Guanglin's face for a moment: "Really? How did he agree? Is he alright now?"
Fu Jingyuan knew that she still had feelings for this man, so he teased her by saying, "It's nothing. I'll take you to see him in a couple of days."
Yan Guanglin shook her head, her voice sounding somewhat lower: "Now, I really do want to see him, but... I don't have the time."
"Don't talk nonsense."
“He'll probably never amount to anything in his life. He's homeless, has no career, and his health is ruined.” Yan Guanglin gasped for breath, the color draining from her face. “I have a favor to ask…”
Fu Jingyuan lifted her hand and placed it near his unshaven mouth: "You say it."
"From now on... please take good care of him... and my child too... don't let anyone mistreat him..."
Fu Jingyuan felt as if his heart was being ripped apart by a knife.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of him."
Yan Guanglin closed her eyes and smiled, "I really shouldn't have met him. But since I did... I can't blame anyone. Oh well... Jingyuan... thank you for taking care of me. You're so kind. Actually, I really want to see my third brother, third sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, eldest sister-in-law, and... Dad..."
Her voice gradually faded until it was barely audible, until it disappeared completely.
Fu Jingyuan stared at her with wide eyes, seemingly in disbelief.
Three minutes later, the door creaked open, and the doctor led in a nurse carrying a child, saying, "Mr. Fu, this lady's child has been brought here!"
The next second, the doctor was surprised to see that Mr. Fu, who had come on so aggressively, suddenly covered his mouth with one hand and reached out with the other hand, trembling, toward the woman's nose on the bed.
The doctor thought indifferently that the woman must have already passed away. It was just a pity that she didn't see her child.
Fu Jingyuan stared intently at himself in the full-length mirror.
I just returned from Yan Guanglin's funeral. It was called a funeral, but it was really just a very hasty little ceremony. Only family members came, and they were acting furtively, as if they were afraid of being found out by outsiders.
The patriarch of the Yan family also arrived, shedding a few tears, but still maintaining a tough demeanor. Several women were crying terribly, among them her third brother, Yan Zhifu, who collapsed to the ground and fainted as soon as he entered the mourning hall.
The Yan family was so grateful to Fu Jingyuan that they had no way to repay him, but Fu Jingyuan remained indifferent, seemingly unconcerned. Others assumed that he was too deeply in love with Yan Guanglin, which was why he was so devastated and dejected.
The Yan family offered to raise the child left behind by Yan Guanglin, but Fu Jingyuan refused because Guanglin had asked him to take care of the child when she left.
Guanglin was a flower, and he watched her bloom and wither away, her brilliant years fleeting and short.
The culprit was that person.
Fu Jingyuan looked in the mirror and unconsciously revealed a sinister smile. Because he also felt it was truly ugly, he quickly regained his composure.
He's become extremely thin, his round face has been sculpted into a pointed chin, and his eye sockets are sunken, but thankfully he has a pair of gold-rimmed glasses to cover it up.
The nanny was holding the baby boy, who was wandering back and forth in the outer corridor, humming some kind of lullaby, which sounded awful.
The child was born looking like a mouse, but after being breastfed for a month, he quickly grew plump and strong. His limbs flailing around like a restless little beast, but he had a good temperament and loved to smile at people. If he encountered Fu Jingyuan, he would reach out his hands and babble. The wet nurse said that it meant the young master wanted the second master to hold him.
How can I hold such a tiny baby?
Fu Jingyuan had never been interested in children. But because this was Rong Xiang and Yan Guanglin's son, it held a particularly profound meaning. He was the only child of the two people he loved most.
The child was so tiny, yet you could already see the resemblance to Rongxiang. Fu Jingyuan looked at him and finally decided to let him take his surname, Fu.
His surname is Fu, and he is a pure and unadulterated young master of the Fu family. When he grows up, he will be sent abroad to study. To make up for all the good days that Guanglin didn't get to enjoy.
Give him a good background, a good family, and a good future.
He wanted to live a wonderful life completely different from that of his biological parents.
However, such matters cannot be decided by one person alone. He went to see Rongxiang, who was recuperating, followed by a wet nurse carrying a child.
Rong Xiang sat listlessly on the bed, surrounded by quilts and large pillows, forming a fortress around him. When he heard the news of Yan Guanglin's death, he cried bitterly, and no one could console him. Fu Jingyuan, at that time, had no choice but to pinch his nose and call Xiao Meng out to comfort him. But seeing how sentimental he was, he was actually very happy.
His biggest complaint about Rongxiang was simply that he hated him for being heartless and ungrateful.
Seeing Fu Jingyuan arrive with a baby, Rong Xiang instinctively guessed it was his son. He usually seemed indifferent to everything, but this time, he was unusually happy, even jumping off the bed. Then, his legs gave way, and he bumped his head against the Western-style wardrobe against the wall. Fu Jingyuan was startled and rushed over to check on him, but suddenly a pair of hands reached out and helped Rong Xiang up.
This startled Fu Jingyuan again. He hadn't noticed that Xiao Meng had been standing next to the wardrobe, wearing an orange-yellow shirt that matched the wardrobe's color, with her head seemingly floating in mid-air, staring blankly at the ground.
He couldn't help but frown. The moment he saw Xiao Meng, he felt a deep-seated disgust. There was no clear reason, just an intuitive discomfort, as if he had seen an evil spirit.
Rongxiang ignored everyone and staggered towards the baby, curiously looking down at it. The baby had been breastfed for over a month and had become quite plump and fair-skinned, showing signs of budding beauty. Rongxiang looked at it for a while, then glanced up at the young wet nurse. The young wet nurse was also clean and efficient in childbirth, and she and the baby seemed quite harmonious together.
“Come here, let me give you a hug,” Rongxiang suddenly said.
The nanny glanced hesitantly at Fu Jingyuan, unsure whether to heed the words of the pale man before her.
Fu Jingyuan laughed: "Put the child on the bed, then go outside and wait." He then glanced back at Xiao Meng: "You go out too."
Only Rong and Fu remained in the room. Rong Xiang squatted by the bed, reaching under the swaddling clothes to try and pick up the baby, but Fu Jingyuan quickly stopped him: "You don't have the strength in your hands, be careful not to drop him again."
Rongxiang smiled at him, his eyes curving into dark crescent moons: "This child is really well raised. Thank you for taking care of him."
After hearing his thanks, Fu Jingyuan thought to himself that since he successfully quit needles, he seemed to have become more sensible.
"Uh... this child usually cries a lot, but today maybe it's because you two are on the same page, he's been exceptionally well-behaved the whole way."
“My mother told me that I cried a lot when I was little. As a result, a young White Russian boy who moved in next door thought I was a girl and once climbed over the wall to bring me a big bouquet of wildflowers.”
This was the first time Rong Xiang had mentioned his childhood, and Fu Jingyuan listened with great interest: "And then?"
"And then? That family moved away very quickly afterward, and that was the end of it."
Rongxiang gently touched the baby's mouth with the tip of his index finger, and the child opened his mouth wide and giggled a few times.
Seeing that he was in a good mood, Fu Jingyuan tentatively revealed his thoughts to him.
Rongxiang didn't get angry when he heard his idea. He just stared blankly for a while before asking out of the blue, "Have you named him yet?"
"Not yet, we're waiting for you to come up with a good name."
"My knowledge is very limited, I can't think of anything good. You can choose one."
Fu Jingyuan found his calmness excessive and was filled with suspicion. After a moment's thought, he said, "How about calling him Nianlin? Fu Nianlin."
As soon as he finished speaking, Rong Xiang began to bare his fangs and claws. He looked up at Fu Jingyuan, who was sitting on the edge of the bed: "Oh, so this has nothing to do with me!"
"ah?"
"Fu Nianlin! What a lovely name. Fu Jingyuan pronounces it as Yan Guanglin, doesn't he?"
Fu Jingyuan felt helpless: "That's not what I meant. I just wanted to commemorate his mother."
Rongxiang stood up. He had been given medication during his needle withdrawal treatment and had been in a deep sleep for five days. Although he had endured the ordeal upon waking, the side effects of the medication were not to be underestimated. For example, he felt numb and somewhat unresponsive. At this moment, he suddenly stood up, unsure whether to feel resentment or gratitude towards Fu Jingyuan, only a vague urge to make a scene. Yet, he was unsure if his actions would be justified.
He was a little confused again, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts: Should I ask someone if it's unfair that he gave my son his surname and named him Fu Nianlin? Of course, he's always been good to me, and I've wronged him before. So what should I do now?
When someone thinks things through before getting angry, their attention is diverted, and the anger doesn't escalate. Besides, he wasn't an idiot; someone who had been so shrewd before, even if he was confused, it was only to a limited extent. Moreover, after being weaned off morphine, all aspects of his health were clearly improving. So, seeing Fu Jingyuan carefully handing the child over to the wet nurse, he didn't stop him.
Fu Jingyuan turned around and closed the door. He walked over and hugged Rong Xiang from behind. He thought the man's waist was extremely slender. He suddenly recalled the days when he first met Rong Xiang in Fengtian. It was freezing cold, but Rong Xiang was only wearing a thick felt hat at an angle. His ears were red from the cold. It was clear that he was a young man who loved beauty.
Fu Jingyuan softened, lowered his head and rested his head on Rong Xiang's shoulder, murmuring, "Be good, be good. Now everything is finally alright. Let's be together properly and stop arguing. Okay?"
Rongxiang stood there stiffly for a while, then suddenly felt extremely tired. He thought about how he had nothing now and had no standing or confidence whatsoever. He leaned back as if exhausted: "Whatever, I don't care anymore."
His mere words were an unprecedented show of weakness. Fu Jingyuan, seeing that the situation was favorable, carefully helped him sit down, stroking his back as he whispered in his ear, "You seem to have gained a little weight since the last two days."
Rongxiang turned away impatiently, his brows furrowing: "What are you trying to do now?"
"Nothing."
"There's a place to sit over there, don't squeeze in with me."
"I don't."
Rongxiang lowered his voice: "How could you—"
"What about me?"
Rongxiang, unable to bear it any longer, stood up and walked to the window: "Disgusting!"
Fu Jingyuan burst into laughter: "I'm vulgar? How long have you been behaving yourself, and now you're putting on this saintly face?"
Rongxiang had his back to him, his eyes fixed on the treetops outside the window: "Don't think I don't remember what you did to me!"
Fu Jingyuan followed, his nose touching Rong Xiang's short hair at the back of his head, warm and fluffy, smelling of soap.
"It's good that you remember. I was afraid you'd forget. When... will we do it again?"
"Get lost!"
“I have a business dinner tonight, and I’m afraid it’ll be too late by the time I get some free time. How about tomorrow?” Fu Jingyuan put both hands on Rong Xiang’s waist: “We can borrow the chef from Fuyu Western Restaurant; he can cook authentic French food. We can eat our fill first, and then…”
Rongxiang angrily elbowed him backward: "Stop talking!"
Fu Jingyuan endured the blow, but his expression remained unchanged: "Have I not told you? The new chairman sees me as a thorn in his side, complaining that my elder brother left behind too many people, yet they completely defy government control. I'm so tired of dealing with these people every day. Once you're feeling better, how about we leave here? We'll have enough money to find a peaceful place to live, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Rong Xiang tilted his head, trying to see Fu Jingyuan's face: "Is it just the two of us?"
"Oh, and your child too. If you like, you can take him with you; if you don't, my sister-in-law can look after him for now. She has lived in Qingliang Nunnery in the northern suburbs for many years. It's very quiet there, and the scenery is beautiful. Don't worry, she is a very kind person."
Rongxiang's mind was stirred by what he had said, so he began to seriously consider the feasibility of this matter: "Xiao Meng should be taken along."
"Why? We're starting a new life together, why should we bring that little servant along? Besides, he's not young anymore, he must be at least twenty, right? He needs to have his own life too, doesn't he? We can give him some money so he can get married and buy a house, and I can even get him a position in the government."
Rongxiang hesitated: "This won't do... I've had him with me since I was thirteen, and we've been inseparable for twelve years..."
Even brothers need to start their own families and build their own careers, right?
Rongxiang thought to himself that he didn't really deserve to be called his brother, but he felt that once they were separated, half of his life would be missing: "This... I can't live without him..."
Hearing this, Fu Jingyuan suppressed the rising jealousy in his heart and smiled even more kindly: "That's just because you're not used to it. Am I not as good as him? I'll take care of you from now on, for the rest of my life. If I don't take good care of you, you can shoot me."
He spoke so sweetly that Rongxiang was momentarily dazed. He felt invigorated at the thought of leaving this chaotic and heartbreaking place and starting a new life.
He wasn't thinking about how Xiao Meng would react; he was only thinking about whether he could get rid of that little servant's service. If he could, he would accept Fu Jingyuan's suggestion completely.
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