When Xu Zhihan woke the next day, the hospital room was unusually quiet.
He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a while, first confirming one thing: this body was still alive.
His chest still felt tight, and his limbs had little strength. During the morning rounds, the doctor studied his test results for a long time before finally managing to say, "Young people certainly recover well."
Xu Zhihan showed no reaction.
Recovered well?
This body had only lasted this long because he had forcibly kept its Soul Vein in check. If the hospital's readings were anything to go by, it should have been stone cold last night.
He disliked hospitals.
Too noisy.
There were footsteps in the corridor, the rattle of nurses' carts, and the hushed voices of family members. All kinds of emotions mingled together: fear, unease, and schemes buried deep beneath the surface.
Xu Zhihan closed his eyes, intending to rest some more, but a knock came at the door.
Three restrained knocks.
Before he could speak, the door opened.
Xu Chengyuan walked in.
Today, he wore a dark gray suit, his hair neatly styled. He had suppressed the anger on his face, replacing it with a practiced calm.
Xu Zhihan had seen that calm on him yesterday.
Xu Chengyuan wanted to negotiate.
Zhou Man had not come, but Xu Mingji followed behind him. His face was a little pale, his eyes red, as though he had slept poorly all night.
Xu Zhihan glanced at him.
He certainly cried often enough.
Under his gaze, Xu Mingji's fingertips tensed. He quickly lowered his head again and said softly, "Brother, about yesterday... I know you'd just woken up and were in a bad mood. I don't blame you."
Xu Zhihan did not respond.
Xu Mingji's words sounded forgiving, but in reality, he was putting everything that had happened yesterday down to Xu Zhihan's "bad mood."
Quite the way with words.
Xu Chengyuan walked to the bedside and got straight to the point. "Are you feeling better?"
Leaning against the headboard, Xu Zhihan replied indifferently, "I won't die."
Xu Chengyuan frowned. "Don't say such unlucky things."
Xu Zhihan looked up at him. "Weren't you all rather hoping I would yesterday?"
The room fell silent for a moment.
Xu Mingji's expression shifted, and he hurried to speak. "Brother, that's not what Dad meant. The doctor really did say you were in critical condition yesterday. We were all terrified."
Xu Zhihan gave a noncommittal hum. "So you started discussing the engagement."
Xu Mingji's eyes immediately reddened.
"Brother, have you misunderstood me? I was only worried the Gu Family might use this to mistreat you later. I never meant to take anything from you."
Watching him, Xu Zhihan suddenly asked, "Do you look in the mirror before you speak?"
Xu Mingji froze. "What?"
"To see whether you believe yourself."
Xu Mingji's face turned white.
"Xu Zhihan, enough," Xu Chengyuan said sternly.
Xu Zhihan said no more.
His body was weak right now, and talking too much hurt his throat. But Xu Chengyuan clearly had no intention of letting him rest.
Xu Chengyuan pulled over a chair and sat down, softening his tone a little. "I can put yesterday down to you having just woken up and not being in your right mind. I'll also tell your aunt not to hold it against you."
There was little emotion in Xu Zhihan's eyes.
Tell Zhou Man not to hold it against him?
How remarkable.
The woman who had trembled on her knees beside his bed was now acting wronged.
Xu Chengyuan continued, "There's something we need to settle as soon as possible. Your engagement to Gu Huai can't be dragged out any longer."
Xu Zhihan finally looked at him.
Meeting his gaze, Xu Chengyuan felt inexplicably uncomfortable. The old Xu Zhihan had been silent and timid; even when cornered, he would only lower his head. Yet the person sitting in the hospital bed now, his face hideously pale, made Xu Chengyuan feel as though he were being scrutinized.
That feeling displeased Xu Chengyuan immensely.
Suppressing his emotions, he said, "The Gu Family already knows about your condition. There wasn't much affection between you and Gu Huai to begin with. Forcing this engagement to continue won't benefit either of you."
Xu Zhihan asked, "And?"
Xu Chengyuan glanced at Xu Mingji.
Xu Mingji immediately lowered his head, his voice trembling. "Brother, I really didn't want this. But Mrs. Gu called yesterday and said the Gu Family would prefer..."
He trailed off midway, as though he could not bring himself to finish.
Xu Zhihan finished for him. "They'd prefer you instead?"
Tears fell from Xu Mingji's eyes. "I refused, but they said they'd end the business partnership outright if our family didn't agree. Brother, I don't want to see Dad put in a difficult position."
Xu Zhihan watched him silently for several seconds.
Xu Mingji's tears looked very convincing.
At least he had improved a little since yesterday.
Xu Chengyuan spoke at just the right moment. "Zhihan, with your poor health, you're not suited to marrying into the Gu Family. Mingji and Gu Huai have also been close over the years. Having him take over the engagement is what's best for our family."
He said it so naturally.
As though he were making arrangements for something already decided.
After hearing him out, Xu Zhihan suddenly laughed.
Very softly.
Yet both Xu Chengyuan and Xu Mingji froze.
The original Xu Zhihan had rarely smiled, and even when he did, it had been cautious and ingratiating. There was no warmth in this smile, only a trace of impatience.
Xu Chengyuan frowned. "What are you laughing at?"
"At you stealing something and still expecting my approval," Xu Zhihan said.
Xu Mingji grew anxious. "Brother, we're not stealing anything. With your health the way it is, the Gu Family couldn't possibly..."
"Shut up."
Xu Zhihan cut him off.
Xu Mingji's tears stalled.
Xu Zhihan turned to Xu Chengyuan. "If the Gu Family wants to break off the engagement, have Gu Huai come himself. If you want to give the engagement to Xu Mingji, have the Gu Family say so themselves."
Xu Chengyuan's face darkened. "This is no time for you to throw a tantrum."
"I'm not." Xu Zhihan's voice was steady. "I'm just tired of you talking in circles and wasting time."
Xu Chengyuan tried again and again to hold back, but finally failed. "Xu Zhihan, without our family, you're nothing."
Xu Zhihan looked at him.
"Is this family anything worth belonging to?"
Xu Chengyuan shot to his feet.
Xu Mingji hurriedly caught his arm. "Dad, Brother isn't well. Don't upset him."
The words were perfectly timed.
A nurse happened to pass the door just then. Hearing that, she instinctively glanced inside.
Xu Mingji immediately lowered his voice further. "Brother, I know you resent me. But the engagement really isn't something I can decide. If you're unwilling, I can go plead with the Gu Family..."
As he spoke, he suddenly clutched his chest, his face growing even paler.
Xu Chengyuan's expression changed at once. "Mingji?"
Xu Mingji breathed rapidly, his eyes red and his fingers clutching the fabric over his chest. He looked as though he were in terrible distress.
"I'm fine... I'm fine."
Despite saying that, he swayed backward.
Xu Chengyuan quickly supported him and pressed the call button for a doctor.
The room descended into chaos again.
A nurse pushed the door open, and a doctor soon arrived. They gathered around Xu Mingji to examine him. Leaning in Xu Chengyuan's arms, Xu Mingji said weakly, "Dad, don't blame Brother. It's my own poor health."
Xu Zhihan sat in his hospital bed, watching coldly.
Interesting.
Xu Mingji's attack had come at far too convenient a moment.
So convenient it seemed rehearsed.
After a brief examination, the doctor frowned and asked, "Has your younger son had any heart problems before?"
Xu Chengyuan immediately replied, "He's been frail since childhood. He can't handle emotional stress."
With his eyes lowered, Xu Mingji said softly, "Doctor, I'm fine. Please don't disturb Brother's rest because of me."
At that, Xu Zhihan suddenly spoke. "You are fine."
Everyone turned to him.
Xu Mingji's expression stiffened. "Brother?"
Xu Zhihan raised a hand and pointed at his cuff.
"Clean your hands before pretending to be sick."
The look in Xu Mingji's eyes changed sharply.
"What are you trying to say now?" Xu Chengyuan asked sternly.
Xu Zhihan's voice remained flat. "There's powdered medicine on his right cuff, and under his nails too. He crushed something before coming in."
Xu Mingji went pale.
The doctor instinctively looked at Xu Mingji's hands.
Xu Mingji immediately hid them behind his back.
The movement was too quick, and far too obvious.
The room abruptly fell silent.
Xu Zhihan leaned back against his pillow. His face was still pale, but his voice was ice-cold.
"Xu Mingji."
He spoke the name very softly.
"Aren't you tired of pretending to be sick all these years?"