Chapter 56: “I remember now.”

“What?” Lu Liu’s voice was too hoarse, and Lin Zhi didn’t catch it clearly. He anxiously said, “Lean against the pole and rest for a bit, I’ll come over right away.”

“Don’t come!” Lu Liu raised his voice, his knuckles white from the tension. “It’s dangerous…”

Passersby noticed his unusual state and kindly asked if he needed help, but Lu Liu stubbornly shook his head, his tone nearly pleading. “Lin Zhi, don’t…”

Lin Zhi had no idea what he was thinking. Lu Liu’s phone had long since fallen from his ear, lost in his chaotic thoughts. Lin Zhi could only hear a few muffled words and was desperate to rush over as soon as the green light appeared.

Lu Liu’s gaze stayed fixed on Lin Zhi as he moved. When they got closer, he immediately grabbed Lin Zhi’s hand, his words filled with frustration: “I told you not to come, but you didn’t listen!”

Lin Zhi’s hand was squeezed painfully, but he didn’t mind. His eyes briefly scanned the fine beads of sweat on Lu Liu’s forehead, his worry deepening. “Where do you feel unwell? Let’s go to the hospital.”

Lu Liu stared deeply at Lin Zhi, murmuring to himself, “I’m sorry… I came too late.”

“What’s ‘sorry’?” Lin Zhi didn’t understand what Lu Liu was saying. He broke free from Lu Liu’s grip and grabbed his hand instead. “Your hands are so cold. Are you sick? I saw you almost fall just now. Are you dizzy? It’s only been a few days and you…”

Lu Liu interrupted him with an enthusiastic hug, pressing Lin Zhi’s head onto his shoulder. The warmth of Lin Zhi’s body and his breath finally made Lu Liu feel at ease.

“…You’re not taking care of yourself properly,” Lin Zhi insisted, finishing his sentence. His eyes peeked out from Lu Liu’s shoulder. “Hey, a lot of people are watching us.”

This area was filled with many entertainment venues, and during the day, it was bustling. Even though many didn’t stop to stare, passersby still shot them embarrassed glances.

“Mm.” Lu Liu responded gruffly, tightening his embrace around Lin Zhi. After holding him for a few more seconds, he reluctantly let go.

Lin Zhi cleared his throat, pretending to adjust his clothes and glancing around. Thankfully, everyone was busy hurrying on their way, and neither of them had done anything too out of line. Most people gave a passing glance and then moved on.

“Where exactly do you feel unwell?” Lin Zhi reached out to feel Lu Liu’s forehead. Other than the lingering sweat, his temperature seemed normal. However, recalling the earlier scene, he was still concerned. “If you’re not feeling well, we need to go to the hospital. Your uncle is a doctor. You should know that many illnesses worsen because they’re neglected.”

“I’m fine,” Lu Liu had recovered his composure by now, but his heart was still full of lingering fear. The memories rushing through his mind made him unable to feel happy, and his face was grim. “I just missed you.”

“Do you know what kind of expression you’re making right now?” Lin Zhi chuckled. “That sounded like I forced you to say it.”

Lin Zhi was trying to lighten the mood, and Lu Liu knew it, but he still couldn’t bring himself to smile. He forced a stiff smile.

As Lu Liu’s gaze swept over a spot across the street, he suddenly froze. The cold air swept in with every breath, stabbing at his heart with pain.

The first time he called Lin Zhi, the phone rang for a long time before being answered. But it wasn’t Lin Zhi’s voice he heard on the other end—it delivered a piece of bad news. He had run all the way from the park bridge, only to arrive to find blocked traffic, a crowd of pedestrians, and Lin Zhi lying in a pool of blood. His heart had been full of both nervousness and anticipation for meeting his boyfriend.

“I said, are you really okay?” Lin Zhi’s smile faded, and his brow furrowed. “You look like you’re about to cry.”

“Lin Zhi,” Lu Liu’s voice was hoarse as he called his name softly. “I want to hug you, but I’m scared…”

“Huh? Why?” Lin Zhi asked, then added, “But there are so many people here, let’s go.”

Lin Zhi didn’t feel comfortable directly taking Lu Liu’s hand, so instead, he tugged at his jacket, leading him into People’s Park. They walked all the way to a bamboo forest by the lake. Lin Zhi didn’t stop, pulling Lu Liu deeper into the bamboo grove.

The bamboo swayed, the stalks crossed over each other, and their figures were hidden within. Once they were far enough that no one outside could see them, Lin Zhi finally stopped and turned, throwing himself into Lu Liu’s arms.

“Okay, now you can hug me.” The sound of Lin Zhi’s down jacket rustling as it compressed echoed. He whispered comfortingly, “If something’s wrong, you can tell me, but if you don’t want to, that’s fine too. I’ll always be with you.”

Lu Liu, half a head taller than Lin Zhi, bent down deeply, burying his face in Lin Zhi’s neck. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with Lin Zhi’s scent. Like an addict, he closed his eyes and sucked on Lin Zhi’s neck, but still felt unsatisfied. He opened his mouth, using his teeth to nibble on the soft skin.

“Hey, why are you biting me? Don’t leave me a neck full of saliva.” Lin Zhi complained, though his hands still held Lu Liu tightly around his waist. “Be gentle, it hurts. Lower a bit, don’t bite up here, the turtleneck can’t cover it…”

Lu Liu’s conflicted emotions slowly softened under Lin Zhi’s “shy” words, and he calmed down. He lifted his head and saw a few red marks on Lin Zhi’s neck where his collar had been pulled, small dots of red scattered across the tender skin.

Lu Liu gently blew on the spot, softly asking, “Does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Lin Zhi managed to joke, “This isn’t bad, you’ll only feel guilty if it really hurts next time.”

Lu Liu already felt guilty beyond measure. Every time he thought about it, his heart contracted, and he murmured, “How could it not hurt? You fell so far, lost so much blood, how could it not hurt?”

“Mm?”

“I’m sorry,” Lu Liu kissed Lin Zhi’s hair and ears repeatedly, his eyes red. “I should have picked you up. I shouldn’t have kept it from you.”

“What are you talking about?” Lin Zhi broke free from Lu Liu’s embrace, looking up at his expression. His heart began to race, and he had a faint guess, but he wasn’t sure. He cautiously asked, “What do you mean by what you said?”

“I…” Lu Liu seemed to lose his ability to form words, staring blankly. “I remembered.”

“Remembered what?” Lin Zhi asked, his heart skipping a beat, and he felt a slight happiness rising within him.

Had Lu Liu remembered the previous life? Had he remembered that he was “Zhi” back then?

Too many memories surged into Lu Liu’s mind in an instant. He hadn’t fully sorted them out, and without thinking, he blurted out the most vivid memory: “You died.”

Lin Zhi: “……”