Chapter 6

Owen helped Xin Chun out of the clinic and into the car.

Xin Chun opened the bag of peanut brittle, turned sideways, and fed Owen a piece first. His fingertips brushed over Owen's lips.

Owen was fastening his seat belt when sweetness unexpectedly touched his tongue, along with a light brush against his lips. He turned with the candy in his mouth and met Xin Chun's equally sweet smile.

Xin Chun said, "A thank-you gift. Is it sweet?"

"Sweet." One side of Owen's cheek moved as he chewed, and the candy suddenly seemed even sweeter.

"Right? I've eaten this peanut brittle since I was little. The convenience store beside my home only sold this kind. I guessed this was the one you bought."

Xin Chun unwrapped another piece and tossed it into his mouth, the candy clicking endlessly against his teeth.

He said indistinctly, "I loved it when I was little. I even got cavities. After that, Grandpa hid the candy and only rewarded me with three pieces a day."

Longing filled Xin Chun's eyes. Hugging the bag of candy, he fell silent.

The car started.

Owen asked, "I've only heard you mention your grandfather. Your parents..."

Xin Chun said flatly, "My father died early in a car accident. My mother... she left me behind, saying she was going to pursue her own happiness. She didn't want to carry around a burden like me."

"So, I grew up with my grandfather."

After a long while, Owen said, "I'm sorry."

His grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Xin Chun merely smiled. "What are you apologizing for? It's not like you wronged me."

In his previous life, he had clung to his obsession and lost himself in it. Fortunately, heaven had given him another chance, allowing him to see clearly what he should have held onto most tightly and never let go of again.

Owen drove Xin Chun home. Seeing how inconvenient it was for him to hop around on one foot, he said, "I'll pick you up tomorrow."

Xin Chun did not want to recuperate at home. A sprained ankle would not stop him from working, though getting around was indeed inconvenient, so he nodded and agreed to let Owen personally drive him to and from work.

Owen helped him sit on the sofa. Handsome Star came over and sniffed the bandage around his ankle.

"Woof."

"I'm fine." Xin Chun patted the dog's head, then looked up at Owen. "Go take care of your work. You don't need to stay here with me."

"Okay. Be careful on your own." Owen turned to leave.

Supporting himself on the sofa with one hand, Xin Chun stood up and hopped on one leg. "I'll walk you out."

Naturally, Owen wanted Xin Chun to stay put and not trouble himself with seeing him off. Xin Chun agreed.

Once the sound of the door closing rang out and Owen had left, Xin Chun hopped a few steps in that direction again, wondering how many days he should keep up the act of having a sprained ankle.

Then came the sound of Handsome Star jumping down from the sofa behind him. Xin Chun turned around and happened to see the big Alaskan dog imitating him, lifting one paw and bending another leg as he limped along.

That posture was really asking for a beating.

"..."

Xin Chun put his leg down and even kicked it a couple of times. He clasped his hands together and cracked his knuckles. "Come on, Star. Dad will loosen you up a little."

"Woof woof."

The dog's ensuing cries sounded somewhat miserable.

After properly "showering" his dog son with affection, Xin Chun entered the study. An old iron box sat in a cabinet drawer. When he opened it, he found quite a few photographs inside.

The top two photos included one taken while his father was still alive—a family portrait with his grandfather. The kind old man held a two-year-old child in his arms as he sat in a chair, while Xin Chun's parents stood behind them.

Xin Chun's gaze lingered on the woman's face for a moment before he removed the photograph.

The photo beneath it still contained that woman—his mother—but she was gently holding another man's arm, the two of them having just stepped out of a car.

During his freshman year of college, Xin Chun had worked desperately, adding his grandfather's money to his own. With anxiety and unease in his heart, he boarded a flight to Country Y, intending to see his mother with his own eyes.

After finally going through great trouble to find the address, he saw this scene at the doorway.

At that moment, Xin Chun felt there was no need for him to step forward. He felt that coming all the way to Country Y in person had made him seem so cheap. He had wasted so much money for nothing.

Yet for some reason, Xin Chun involuntarily raised his phone and captured the scene.

Later, he changed his ticket and returned home that very day.

After graduating from university, Xin Chun returned to Jingu Town and met Owen in the forest.

At first, he had not recognized who Owen was. However, the surname "Williams" had left a deep impression on him. Combined with Owen's appearance—like father, like son, they bore a resemblance in certain features—he went home and looked through the photographs to confirm it.

He took both photographs out of the iron box.

Xin Chun closed the box, placed the photos on top of it, and shut the drawer.

The next day at work, Miko bought plenty of fruit and snacks as gifts to visit Xin Chun.

Although Xin Chun did not mind, Miko still felt guilty.

"All right, I'll accept these things. Don't keep it on your mind either. This isn't your fault," Xin Chun said.

Miko said, "Senior Brother, if you need anything, make sure to tell me. Other than helping you to the bathroom, I can do anything else."

Xin Chun laughed at her words.

Owen saw the two of them chatting happily. Ivy, following beside him, said as if casually, "Yesterday, I was chatting with Miko and asked about how their blind date went that day, whether there was any possibility of taking things further."

Owen turned to look at her. "What did she say?"

Ivy said, "Neither of them intends to date. They only talked about their fields of study during the blind date. Rather than lovers, the two of them are better suited to be good friends, don't you think, Boss?"

Owen neither agreed nor disagreed and walked away.

Ivy followed behind him. It seemed that, as his secretary, she would also have to serve as a relationship adviser.

Xin Chun's sprained ankle was not serious enough to require crutches. He limped to the restroom, and just after he finished and zipped up, Owen walked in.