Utterly disgraced

Ji Ting did not understand what being handsome had to do with being a creep. He said coolly, "I really don't know where Ling Xi is this time. Go back..."

"No, no, no." The man waved his hands in denial. "That's not what this is about."

Ji Ting's brows shifted slightly. "Then why does he want to see me?"

The man did not actually know the reason either. He said hesitantly, "Lu just heard you were at Ruihe, so he sent me over. He said that if you didn't have anything else to do after your appointment, I should invite you over."

The moment he finished speaking, Ji Ting's gaze sharpened.

What the man had said meant someone had specifically tipped Lu Yanchu off about his coming here to have his stitches removed. Excluding Butler Yang at home, that person could only be a member of Ruihe's staff.

If Lu Yanchu had someone here...

Then he most likely also knew about the examination Ji Ting had undergone here before.

The man had no idea how much had gone through Ji Ting's mind in that instant. He cluelessly waved a hand in front of his eyes. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Ji Ting raised his eyes, his voice slightly cold. "Where is Lu Yanchu now?"

Just fifteen minutes later, the two of them got out of the car in front of a villa.

This residential complex was only a few kilometers from Ruihe. No wonder the man had arrived so quickly.

The man led Ji Ting inside and said, "Have a seat. Lu's probably upstairs. I'll go get him."

"Mm."

Ji Ting walked over to the sofa and sat down. The coffee table before him was a little cluttered, with a laptop, two cups, and several books lying open on it. They looked like scripts.

Ji Ting lowered his eyes slightly. I need to sound Lu Yanchu out and see whether he knows the results of my brain examination. If he only knows I had an examination, that's no big deal. But if...

If it's the other possibility, I'll have to find a way to make Lu Yanchu keep his mouth shut.

Lu Yanchu stood frozen by the bathroom door, his hand holding a towel suspended in midair, as though someone had suddenly pressed pause on him.

Yet a moment later, an unusual light appeared in his eyes, and the corners of his lips curved faintly upward.

So it really was Ji Ting.

Knock, knock, knock-

His assistant's voice came from outside the door. "Lu, are you in there?"

Lu Yanchu came back to himself and answered, "Yes. I'll be right out."

The assistant waited less than a minute before the door opened.

"Is he here?"

The assistant smiled and nodded. "Yes, he's sitting downstairs."

"Thanks for your help. Go back to your room and get some rest."

Lu Yanchu went downstairs alone. As the elevator doors opened, he spotted the figure sitting on the sofa from a distance.

Professional habit drew Lu Yanchu's gaze to Ji Ting's face first. Though he could only see his profile, he could tell that his features were virtually flawless. His perfect, unusually round eyes and fair cheeks, with their youthful softness, made him look like a tender white shoot unfurling in the morning.

Lu Yanchu's lips lifted slightly. No wonder he was Ling Xi's first love. That face certainly made a convincing case.

Just then, as though sensing something, Ji Ting turned to look over.

Their gazes met. Lu Yanchu showed none of the embarrassment of someone caught staring, and smiled. "Hello, Ji Ting. I'm Lu Yanchu."

Ji Ting's gaze lingered on his face for only an instant before a description from the book automatically surfaced in his mind. Although Lu Yanchu lacked Qin Zaiye's family background and Ji Yanzhi's shrewdness, he had the advantage of being an emotionally stable, dependable loyal dog.

Lu Yanchu's usual smile stiffened a little.

A loyal dog? That assessment did not sound much like a compliment, especially when he was being compared with those other two.

Lu Yanchu adjusted his expression so quickly that nothing showed. "Would you like something to drink? I'll get it for you."

Ji Ting said indifferently, "No, thank you."

Lu Yanchu came over and walked to the sofa on the other side. "Please, have a seat."

Once they were both seated, he went straight to the point. "First, I should explain that I didn't send my assistant to follow you. I just happened to hear that you went to Ruihe today, so I thought there was no time like the present for us to meet."

That was exactly what Ji Ting wanted to ask. "How did you know I went to Ruihe?"

Lu Yanchu smiled slightly. "Funny coincidence, actually. The last time I went there, you happened to be there too. I wasn't sure it was you, though, so I didn't call out to you."

Ji Ting's brows shifted slightly as he remembered Ji Yanzhi mentioning this before. Ji Yanzhi had even mocked him for being so in tune with Lu Yanchu; otherwise, how could they have appeared at Ruihe on the same day?

He fell silent for a moment. "What about today? Was that a coincidence too?"

"My manager's cousin works at Ruihe's front desk. Since I didn't get to speak to you last time and didn't have your contact details, I asked her to keep an eye out. I thought I'd try my luck and find another chance to thank you in person."

Lu Yanchu had already come up with an explanation before Ji Ting arrived. After hearing his earlier thoughts, however, he had made the excuse a little more plausible.

The front desk did not have access to patients' medical records, so the danger had passed for now. Still, Ji Ting did not entirely believe this explanation.

"You said you wanted to thank me in person. Is that just because I gave you that note?"

Lu Yanchu's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of scrutiny entered his eyes. "Aside from that, I'm also a little curious. Since you knew where Ling Xi was back then, why didn't you go find him yourself?"

Ji Ting found this topic utterly tedious. He instinctively thought, Actual dogs really are less trouble. At least they'll chase after the Frisbee they want the moment you throw it, instead of asking endless questions.

Hearing Ji Ting's thoughts, Lu Yanchu's lashes fluttered, and he almost laughed.

He had been in the industry for so many years and played all kinds of roles, but never a "loyal dog." This was the first time he had heard anyone apply that term to him. The more he heard it, the more novel it felt, though mostly he found it amusing.

"My eldest brother's people were watching me the whole time. Even if I knew the address, I couldn't go. Rather than waste time, I might as well give it straight to you." Ji Ting's tone was thoroughly indifferent.

Looking at his seemingly unconcerned expression, Lu Yanchu suddenly felt a little more pity for him. Ji Ting was still concealing his terminal illness. It seemed he did not intend to tell Ling Xi.

He looked into Ji Ting's eyes and said gently, "Don't worry. He's somewhere safe now, and he's doing well."

"That's good." Ji Ting did not want to waste any more time. With that, he stood up. "I have something else to do, so I'll be going."

Lu Yanchu also rose from the sofa. "Then I'll have my assist..."

Before he could finish, his leg bumped the open script at the edge of the table, knocking it to the floor.

Both of them instinctively looked down. Ji Ting saw the title printed in large, bold characters on the cover: "Wind's Edge."

Lu Yanchu bent to pick it up and put it back on the coffee table. "I'll have my assistant drive you."

Ji Ting kept his eyes lowered, his gaze still resting on the script.

Lu Yanchu is already looking into this movie?

Lu Yanchu froze, then saw Ji Ting's lashes flutter and his brows draw together slightly.

So the butterfly effect hasn't just affected me. The timeline for Lu Yanchu's disgrace has moved up too.