Chapter 70.2

“When she graduated, she confessed to me and said she didn’t want to leave any regrets from her youth. Do you know what it means for a pie to drop from the sky? This is it.”

Old Xing smiled lightly, “We dated for four years. She was studying abroad, while I worked hard to make money just so I could fly over to see her. Her family was well-off, and it took a long time for us to get married. On her wedding day, she invited her sisters from high school. They all asked her why she married someone like me, and they also recounted my many shortcomings. Not only was she not moved, but she almost got into a fight because she defended me. She is really… a very stupid girl.”

Perhaps he had held it in for too long. Old Xing talked a lot intermittently. The more he went on, the weaker his smile became. By the end, his eyes were red.

“Her disease was hereditary and without a cure. I closed the company for her, and because of this, even got into a big fight with her. It was our first fight since we got married… The words she said the most before leaving was for me to find someone else.”

Old Xing covered his eyes, “In my whole life, my biggest regret is that I didn’t get together with her sooner so that I could dote on her earlier.”

Ji Ran was speechless for a while, and when the bell rang for the end of school, he stood up and patted the other man on the shoulder.

On the way to the hospital, Ji Ran was in a daze and almost ran a red light.

After arriving safely, he sat in the driver’s seat and pinched his eyebrows.

It seemed that this period of time was not suitable for driving.

Arriving at the ward, he glanced inside. Qin Man was sitting on the hospital bed, watching an anti-Japanese drama on TV with the other patients.

He suddenly remembered how Qin Man was covered in blood when they were in the car accident.

The moment he closed his eyes, Ji Ran even thought he was dead.

In the ambulance, he was actually not only thinking about how he should account for this to Qin Man’s parents. He was more afraid.

This was the person he had been chasing for half his life. In the past, even after graduation, he would go round and round to inquire about Qin Man’s current situation. He couldn’t help but feel flustered at the thought that this person might be gone.

When the news of Qin Man’s bankruptcy came out, others congratulated him. He was smiling, but kept drinking one cup after another. Not only was he not as delighted as he expected, he actually felt stuffy.

So when he saw Qin Man at the bar, his first reaction was to hand over his bank card.

Then, under Qin Man’s surprised gaze, he spat out those harsh words about saving him.

On the hospital bed, Qin Man seemed to sense something and looked towards the door. Because of his neck, he almost turned his whole body towards that side.

When he met Ji Ran’s eyes, the corners of his originally tense lips seemed to relax and rose into a smile.

“You’re late. Lunch time has passed.”

“I went to meet an old friend.” Ji Ran avoided his gaze.

Qin Man noticed that his mood was not right, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” Ji Ran said, “Your smile is really ugly.”

In the afternoon, the nurse came to change Qin Man’s dressing.

Qin Man wanted to drive Ji Ran out, but Ji Ran didn’t leave. He took a seat beside him and watched the nurse remove the bandage.

Under the bandage was an unsightly wound. Although there was no bleeding, there were still traces of stitches.

Ji Ran felt choked, and asked the nurse, “Will these wounds leave scars?”

The nurse said, “If it recovers properly, it won’t.”

Ji Ran asked, “What if it doesn’t recover properly?”

“…”

“Is there any surgery to remove scars now? Can scars of this level be removed?”

The nurse said awkwardly, “I’m also not sure about that.”

Qin Man laughed, “I’m not a girl, it doesn’t matter if there are scars. It’ll just add to my appeal.”

Ji Ran pursed his lips and stopped talking.

In the evening, after the two of them had dinner, Qin Man said, “Go back, don’t sleep here at night. This bed is too uncomfortable.”

Ji Ran packed away the leftovers. “It’s just for a few days, I’m not that delicate.”

“No, go back.”

Ji Ran paused and asked, “Can’t bear to watch me sleep on those iron bars?”

Not expecting him to say this, Qin Man raised his eyebrows: “I really can’t…”

“Then you will have to suffer a little and make room for me.”

After leaving these words behind, Ji Ran walked out of the ward with the trash.

Qin Man was left sitting alone on the hospital bed, with a rare look of confusion, not understanding what he meant.

But he soon understood.

At night, the curtains around the hospital bed were tightly drawn. Ji Ran laid on his side and slept next to him. The smell of soap from his body lingered on the tips of both their noses, smelling fresh and clean.

In order to allow him to lie flat and avoid crushing his arms, Ji Ran’s sleeping area was very small and uncomfortable at first glance, but Qin Man was not willing to drive him away.

“Yesterday, the nurse gave me your wallet.” It was late at night, but neither of them were asleep. Surrounded by other people snoring, Ji Ran suddenly spoke up.

Qin Man opened his eyes, “Hmm?”

“I accidentally opened it and saw…the note inside.”

Ji Ran licked his lips and asked him, “Why is that note with you?”

“You saw it?” Qin Man asked, “I saw it in the trash can and thought the penmanship looked good, so I picked it up.”

Ji Ran thought it was funny, and looked at his side profile, “And stored it in your wallet?”

Qin Man didn’t blush at all, “Yeah.”

“You’re like a pervert.” Ji Ran whispered, “The kind of pervert who stalks others.”

Qin Man said frankly, “I am indeed.”

“…”

“Think about it. When you were fighting with someone in the alley in your second year of high school, how could the police find that alley so quickly when it was so remote and hardly anyone used it?”

“…”

“However, no matter how abnormal I am, you provoked me yourself.” Qin Man said confidently, “If you didn’t pick on me, how could I pester you?”

“…”

Realising that he might have said too much, Qin Man looked at him and waited for a while, but received no response.

“No way.” Qin Man laughed, “did I scare you?”

“It was because you got into fights too frequently during that period that I was worried about you, so I followed you… I didn’t really mean to do anything to you.”

“Qin Man.” Ji Ran suddenly interrupted him.

“Hm?”

He felt the person beside him leaned closer, and then carefully rested his forehead on his shoulder.

“Where’s the ring from before?” Ji Ran asked.

Qin Man was slightly startled, “What?”

“The ring you wanted to give me on Chen An’s birthday.” Ji Ran paused, “Where did it go?”

“It’s at home. What’s wrong?”

“Give it to me.”

“…”

Qin Man felt that this brace around his neck was really annoying.

He resisted the urge to look at Ji Ran and joked, “Why do you want it all of a sudden?”

“Weren’t you going to give it to me?”

There was no way to get the ring now. Qin Man said teasingly, “That was before, I kept it for so many months, its significance has changed. It is now a token of my love, it can’t be given to just anyone.”

There was silence again.

After waiting for a while, Qin Man decided not to tease him anymore, “Wait for us to leave the hospital…”

“Give it to me.”

“…”

Qin Man was stunned and waited with bated breath for a while. He asked with a hoarse voice, “Do you understand what this means?”

“I know.” Ji Ran responded quickly and firmly.

He repeated again, “Give it to me. I will wear it.”

At two o’clock in the morning, the ward was full of other people snoring.

Two grown men squeezed into a small hospital bed, both their hearts beating so fast that it felt as if it could catch up with the sound of rain outside.