I'll Wait for You

Dr. Xu arrived quickly, flustered and hurried. He nearly tripped over the living room rug as he entered. It was not that he lacked composure; the butler's tone on the phone had simply been too urgent. Dr. Xu had thought Meng Shangzhi was having another episode.

Only upon arriving did he learn that the patient was a stranger he had never met before. Still... as Dr. Xu examined him, he glanced at Meng Shangzhi's expression. Meng Shangzhi was so nervous it was outrageous. That look, that expression—it was practically the same as having an episode.

Dr. Xu had formed an idea. After examining Bai Yunsheng with utmost care and asking a few questions, he had him remove his clothes. The butler withdrew at the sight.

His clothes were removed and piled around Bai Yunsheng's waist and abdomen. His fair skin carried a faint blush beneath the natural light. Though he was thin, he was beautiful, like a handful of snow in winter. Yet that beauty soon vanished. When the white medical gauze was peeled away, a viciously red wound stretched across his smooth, pale back, jarringly conspicuous.

Meng Shangzhi's pupils trembled slightly. Dr. Xu's voice by his ear seemed to drift farther and farther away, hollow and distant.

"When were you injured?"

"It's recovering quite well. The medicine used is good too."

"Be careful. It shouldn't scar."

"You haven't gotten it wet, have you?"

"Oh, right..."

Without warning, Meng Shangzhi suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Bai Yunsheng's arm where it hung at his side. "Who did this?"

Meng Shangzhi was not gripping him very hard, so Bai Yunsheng felt no discomfort.

Bai Yunsheng pressed his lips together. His gaze was somewhat unsettled, unsure where to look. He had no intention of playing the victim, nor did he want to take advantage of Meng Shangzhi—at least, not now.

When Bai Yunsheng did not answer for a long time, emotions surged in Meng Shangzhi's eyes. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he raised a hand and lifted Bai Yunsheng's chin, forcing his wavering gaze to meet his own.

"Who did this?" Meng Shangzhi's tone was not exactly stern, but it was far from gentle.

Just as Bai Yunsheng tried to lower his eyes, Meng Shangzhi's hand exerted a little more force upward. Instinctively, Bai Yunsheng looked at him again.

Dr. Xu, standing nearby, looked awkward enough to wish he could burrow into the ground. Why did he have to witness such an embarrassing scene?

He did not dare move. Not at all.

The two remained locked in a standoff.

Bai Yunsheng's features were exquisite, especially his brows—fine and long, the kind that should have belonged on a woman's face, yet had somehow fallen upon his. Paired with the classic willow-leaf eyes beneath them, he resembled the misty rain of Jiangnan.

After an unknown amount of time, Meng Shangzhi finally relented and released him. His dark eyes seemed to have calmed. He placed his hand on his knee and rubbed his thumb against his forefinger. "If you don't want to say, I won't force you."

"Mr. Meng," Bai Yunsheng said. "Feng Zhiyou did it."

Before dinner, Bai Yunsheng carefully learned about the partnership and went over the contract with Meng Shangzhi. Meng Shangzhi was very patient. Anything Bai Yunsheng did not understand, or only half understood, Meng Shangzhi explained thoroughly, mentioning the various procedures and what might happen during them.

He had listened so intently that when Bai Yunsheng finally looked up, he realized the sky outside had gradually darkened into a deep blue, soon to turn black.

Meng Shangzhi checked the time. "Let's have dinner first. I'll take you back afterward."

Bai Yunsheng stood up. Hearing that, he hesitated before speaking. "Can I stay here tonight?"

Meng Shangzhi froze halfway through rising, then straightened again. As though he had not heard, or was unsure of what he had heard, he asked once more, "What did you say?"

Bai Yunsheng's earlobes reddened. He raised a hand to rub his ear. Because his request was so inappropriate, his voice slowed considerably. "If it's all right, can I stay here tonight? If I go back now, Father definitely won't be happy."

After receiving an affirmative answer, Meng Shangzhi was not particularly happy. Instead, his chest felt terribly clogged.

Feng Yanshan did not deserve to be called a father at all.

And besides...

Meng Shangzhi took a few steps closer to Bai Yunsheng. "Would you do this if it were someone else?"

Confusion flashed through Bai Yunsheng's eyes, but he quickly understood. He replied with certainty, "No."

Those two words, no, quickly lifted Meng Shangzhi's mood from the depths. Then he immediately realized what he had just said and regretfully added, "Sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."

A man who stood so high above others had become so cautious. It was absurd, yet moving.

Bai Yunsheng shook his head. His eyes were bright and sincere. "Mr. Meng, you're a good person. No matter what you do, you never need to apologize to me."

Bai Yunsheng moved a little closer. He could already smell the faint medicinal scent on Meng Shangzhi. He lifted his eyes, and the upward angle made his features appear especially beautiful and alluring.

You gave my soul peace.

So, apart from Mom, you are the best person in this world.

Meng Shangzhi gave a soft cough and took a step back. "No one has ever said I was a good person before you."

Bai Yunsheng shook his head. He had heard more or less all the rumors about Meng Shangzhi. "Mr. Meng, you did nothing wrong. The people who should have been eliminated were the useless ones. Besides, you were doing it to survive, weren't you?"

Outside, night had fully fallen. The lamp in the study hung from the ceiling, its cold white light spilling down onto the soft carpet alongside the moonlight. A gust of wind blew the branches outside, scraping them across the window with a shrill sound. The shadows swayed, brushing past their feet like countless threads winding the two of them together.

Bai Yunsheng smiled, the corners of his eyes curving. "I'm hungry. Let's eat, Mr. Meng."

The two went downstairs together. Dinner was abundant yet light, clearly prepared with Bai Yunsheng's injury in mind.

After dinner, Bai Yunsheng returned to the study and called Feng Yanshan, telling him that he would not be going home.

Feng Yanshan's voice on the other end was gentle and smiling. Even without seeing him, Bai Yunsheng could picture that expression on Feng Yanshan's face.

Bai Yunsheng spoke respectfully, though his face was entirely cold.

"Father, rest early."

Only after hanging up did he notice Meng Shangzhi standing in the doorway.

Meng Shangzhi did not enter. The two tacitly avoided mentioning that false phone call. "It's a little too late to buy you clothes now. If you don't mind, I have a set of pajamas that's never been worn." Only then did he walk in. A servant followed behind him, carrying a basket filled with brand-new toiletries.

"You have an injury on your back. Is it really all right for you to bathe?"

Bai Yunsheng said, "I won't wash my back. That's how I've managed these past few days. I won't touch the wound."

"Mr. Meng, after I finish bathing, may I ask you a few more questions?"

Meng Shangzhi naturally would not refuse any request Bai Yunsheng made.

"All right. I'll wait for you."