The Third Year After The Breakup, He Knelt and Begged to Get Back Together - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: If You Don’t Come Back Today, I’ll Personally Come Pick You Up…

Back when Qi Mingfeng first got together with He Xian, he had fantasized about many scenarios for their trip to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage. He had imagined the clothes they would wear for the photos, the poses they would strike—each vision more romantic and beautiful than the last.

However, when the day finally arrived, it had nothing to do with romance or beauty. He was being forced into marriage by He Xian, wearing clothes that didn’t fit, while He Xian’s lips were still raw and torn from his bite.

Neither of them smiled, nor did they lean toward each other. Rather than a marriage certificate photo, it looked more like two funerary portraits placed side-by-side on a tombstone.

He took only one glance before tossing the marriage certificate back to He Xian.

He didn’t need it.

He Xian tucked the certificate away and personally prepared a suitcase for him, filled with various supplies He Xian had bought for him.

His SIM card was installed in a new phone, his linked bank cards were canceled one by one and replaced with He Xian’s “family cards,” and the cards in his wallet were confiscated, replaced by He Xian’s supplementary credit card.

Because there was still the mess of the canceled engagement to clean up, He Xian had the driver take him to the hospital in D City while he remained in C City.

By the time Qi Mingfeng arrived at the hospital, he found that He Xian had already paid all the fees and had even set up a meal card for him. If he were a hospital employee, the amount on the card would be enough to feed him until retirement.

He Xian spared no effort in implementing what he had said: he intended to stamp his own brand onto every detail of Qi Mingfeng’s life.

If Qi Mingfeng were the type of person who liked to live life “lying flat,” this feeling of not having to use his brain at all would probably have felt great. But he wasn’t.

He had known from a young age that in this life, you can only rely on yourself. What others give you can be withheld or taken back at any time.

If he and He Xian were in a relationship, he could accept He Xian treating him this way, but in return, he would have taken care of every aspect of He Xian’s life as well.

But they weren’t.

They shared a legal relationship more intimate than dating, but in reality, they were like enemies. He Xian only wanted to nauseate him, and he was equally nauseated by He Xian.

The only decent thing He Xian did was have a word with President Zhang, ensuring that the doctors and nurses responsible for Qi Huan would pay attention without making the treatment seem too “special” or gossiping.

Qi Mingfeng accompanied Qi Huan at the hospital every day, waiting for him to wake up. He Xian didn’t call or text; after all, if He Xian wanted to find him and tell him to come back, it was only a matter of a single word.

He tried his best to ignore the invisible shackles trapping him, focusing all his heart on praying for Qi Huan’s early recovery.

On the third day, the little boss rushed back to D City.

Upon learning what had happened over the past few days, the little boss sighed deeply, though he was powerless to help.

On the morning of the fourth day, Qi Huan left the ICU.

At noon, Qi Huan woke up.

Qi Mingfeng happened to be out getting food and missed the exact moment he woke up. By the time he returned, Qi Huan was already speaking with the little boss.

Qi Mingfeng rushed to the bedside. Before he could speak, Qi Huan lunged forward, hugging him tightly in his arms, his voice trembling.

“Brother, I’m sorry… Brother…”

Seeing Qi Huan wake up and hug him while crying, Qi Mingfeng felt a mix of relief and complex emotions.

“It’s okay as long as you’re fine, as long as you’re fine,” he suppressed his feelings. “Quickly, sit back. You still have an IV in your hand.”

But Qi Huan wouldn’t let go, his chin resting on Qi Mingfeng’s shoulder.

Qi Mingfeng heard Qi Huan say very softly: “I regret it…”

“What?”

Qi Huan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, as if he were carrying something very heavy. He slowly sat up straight, his voice hoarse but firm: “I regret studying medicine.”

Qi Mingfeng was puzzled. Why would Qi Huan say such a thing the moment he woke up?

He asked: “Didn’t you like this subject very much?”

Qi Huan: “I liked it before. Now I feel that studying medicine takes too long, causing me to miss too many things.”

“Were you scared by the relapse, feeling like you put all your energy into studying and didn’t enjoy your youth?” Qi Mingfeng comforted him. “It’s okay. The doctor said the probability of another relapse after this treatment is very small. You are still young; you have plenty of time to enjoy your youth and many opportunities to experience different possibilities.”

“I will,” Qi Huan looked at him with burning eyes, steadying the sob in his voice. “I definitely will.”

Qi Mingfeng offered a few more words of comfort when his phone vibrated.

He pulled it out and saw it was a text from He Xian.

“Since he’s awake, hurry back to C City. If you don’t come back today, I’ll personally come pick you up.”

The joy brought by Qi Huan waking up vanished instantly.

Although He Xian wasn’t in D City, President Zhang had received He Xian’s donation and synchronized the news to him immediately.

After circling around for so many years, every time he thought he could escape this twisted relationship, he only ended up sinking deeper.

He Xian already knew he had been deceived. He was so nauseated by him that he was willing to drag himself down just to make Qi Mingfeng miserable.

Going back this time… what would it be like?

Despite his reluctance, he had to go back. Otherwise, He Xian really would dare to barge in front of Qi Huan and provoke him right back into the ICU.

Just as he was worrying about how to explain, Qi Huan spoke: “Is it something for work?”

Qi Mingfeng said vaguely: “Mhm…”

The sunlight outside the window was at its peak. Qi Huan sat against the light, the IV tube hanging diagonally in front of his face like a scar. He spoke considerately: “It’s okay, Brother. If you’re busy, go do what you need to do. I’ll cooperate with the doctor’s rehabilitation plan and try to be discharged early to find you.”

Qi Mingfeng’s heart was incredibly conflicted.

On one hand, He Xian’s actions humiliated him; on the other hand, Qi Huan’s maturity made his heart ache with guilt.

The little boss smoothed things over: “Mingfeng, you’ve taken many days off already. Go back early. I’m here; I’ll definitely take good care of A-Huan this time.”

Despite his reluctance to leave, Qi Mingfeng could only book the earliest train ticket back to C City. He replied to the text: Returning today.

Qi Mingfeng packed his luggage and reluctantly returned to C City.

He didn’t want to leave the newly awakened Qi Huan, and he was even less willing to return and face He Xian.

But he couldn’t run away.

After a three-hour high-speed train ride, he stepped onto the soil of C City once again.

The high-speed rail station was unusually crowded today.

Qi Mingfeng pulled his suitcase and followed the crowd out of the station. The place where He Xian lived was quite far from the station. He took out his phone, considering whether to call a ride-hailing service or take a taxi from the station.

Because he was wearing sunglasses and a mask, the phone’s camera couldn’t perform facial recognition. Qi Mingfeng had to enter the numeric passcode.

Just as he was about to enter the last digit, he was suddenly bumped from behind. He fell directly onto the ground, and the phone flew out of his hand.

Qi Mingfeng: “…”

Was he cursed when it came to phones this year?

“Sorry, brother! Did you get hurt?”

The man who bumped into him fell to the ground with him. He was also wearing sunglasses and a mask and looked as if he were being pursued by debt collectors. While checking on Qi Mingfeng, he didn’t forget to glance behind him.

Qi Mingfeng was fine. He picked up his phone and found that the screen wouldn’t light up.

The man also noticed this. He pulled out his wallet and, without counting, grabbed a stack of cash and stuffed it at him: “I’m so sorry, take the money! If it’s not enough, call the police and have me arrested! I’ve gotta… wait, no…!”

Before Qi Mingfeng could be surprised by the man’s train of thought, he was startled by the man’s voice. Both of them cried out at the same time:

“Zhixi?!”

“Senior?!”

Qi Mingfeng said in surprise: “Why are you here?”

“I took the train back to C City. Are you back in the country to visit relatives, Senior? I…” Zhou Zhixi heard something, scrambled up, pulled Qi Mingfeng up from the ground with his right hand, grabbed his luggage with his left, and began sprinting with both Qi Mingfeng and the luggage as if dragging a sack. “Run, Senior! The reporters are right behind us!”

Qi Mingfeng: “?”

Thanks to Zhou Zhixi, Qi Mingfeng—who had been retired for two years—once again experienced the life-and-death speed of being chased by reporters.

The wind whistled past his ears. The passing crowd stared at them, and countless lenses were pointed their way. Amidst the chaos, someone exclaimed to a companion:

“Holy sh*t! Bank robbers!”

In the midst of his frantic pace, Qi Mingfeng looked back at the man who called him a bank robber.

Seeing him look back, the man quickly covered his face as if afraid of retaliation.

At that moment, Zhou Zhixi shouted: “Senior, call a car!”

Qi Mingfeng snapped back: “My phone screen is black.”

Zhou Zhixi handed the luggage back to him, calling a car on his own phone while running.

Qi Mingfeng finally had the chance to stuff the money back into Zhou Zhixi’s bag. He couldn’t help asking: “Where’s your assistant?”

Zhou Zhixi: “They quit to take the civil service exam.”

Qi Mingfeng: “?”

What on earth had both of them gone through these past two years!

Because Zhou Zhixi had pulled him along so naturally, it wasn’t until Qi Mingfeng followed him into the car that it suddenly hit him: Wait, the person the reporters were chasing was Zhou Zhixi. They probably wouldn’t have even noticed me. Why did I run?!

Zhou Zhixi was dripping with sweat. Seeing that the driver was older and likely didn’t care for gossip or celebrities, he took off his sunglasses and mask, revealing that exceptionally stunning face.

Every time Qi Mingfeng saw Zhou Zhixi in person, he was slightly dazed by the man’s looks. Every feature was exquisite and beautiful, especially those lively eyes—when they curved into a smile, even the coldest winter would be filled with the glow of spring.

“I’m really sorry, Senior,” Zhou Zhixi said while wiping his sweat. “Look at the mess I made. We haven’t seen each other in so long, and I broke your phone the moment we met.”

They hadn’t seen each other in two or three years. The sudden and bizarre reunion left Qi Mingfeng in a state of surreal daze.

He replied with a slight delay: “It’s okay. I’ll take it back and see if it can be repaired. It might still work.”

Zhou Zhixi took the phone and fiddled with it for a moment before shaking his head: “It’s a goner. My destination is Changsheng Road; there’s a flagship store there. I happened to want to see if your brand of phone is any good anyway. Let’s get one for each of us.”

Qi Mingfeng: “Changsheng Road is crowded. If you go there like this, you’ll be chased again.”

Zhou Zhixi: “Then what should I do? My phone is about to die too; I need to find a place to charge it quickly.”

Qi Mingfeng thought for a moment: “Nanxiang Road is close. I have a house there. Let’s go there.”

They hadn’t seen each other for a long time and both had things to talk about. Going to Qi Mingfeng’s house would be perfect for resting and chatting quietly.

The house his teacher had left him was a small villa. After getting it back from Ruan Zhiyan, he had hired someone to clean it.

Ruan Zhiyan likely only took it because he couldn’t stand to see Qi Mingfeng living well; he probably never actually stepped inside. Looking at the video the cleaner had sent him, the interior looked exactly as it did when he had left, save for a thick layer of dust.

Qi Mingfeng pushed open the gate; this was also his first time inside in two years.

The first thing he saw was a small garden. He hadn’t tended to it for two years, so it should have been overgrown with weeds, but the cleaners had pulled them all, leaving it currently bare.

The main interior decoration was the Nordic style popular back then, which the teacher had modified, so it wasn’t outdated even now.

Zhou Zhixi looked over the house and asked: “Senior, did the teacher give you this house?”

Qi Mingfeng didn’t intend to hide it, but he was curious: “How did you tell?”

Zhou Zhixi gave a mindless laugh: “The one he gave me looks like this, too.”

Qi Mingfeng was infected by Zhou Zhixi’s relaxed attitude and smiled along: “The teacher really treats everyone equally. By the way, why were you being chased by so many reporters at the train station?”

Zhou Zhixi shrugged indifferently: “I was photographed binge-drinking at a bar. Plus, since I haven’t appeared in the public eye for a while, some people have been chasing me to ask if I’m quitting and retiring from the industry.”

As a professional singer, Qi Mingfeng was naturally aware of the importance of the voice: “You went to a bar to binge-drink?”

Zhou Zhixi held up three fingers toward the sky and said miserably: “Teacher above, my glass was filled with Sprite—not a drop of alcohol! I just went to play with friends; who knew someone would take pictures.”

…

Qi Mingfeng was momentarily speechless.

Mainly, Zhou Zhixi holding three fingers to the sky while saying “Teacher above” always made him feel like the teacher had unfortunately passed away.

Sorry, Teacher, I didn’t mean to offend you.

Qi Mingfeng gave an uneasy cough: “Speaking of which, where did the teacher go?”

Zhou Zhixi shrugged: “You know how the teacher is. He’s so free-spirited; how could he notify his students where he’s going… Hey, Senior, is someone ringing the doorbell outside?”