Chapter 63: Lin Zhi Buries His Face in Lu Liu’s Shoulder…

“Hey,” Lin Zhi pretended not to understand Lin Qingye’s joke, then said seriously, “Dad, be nicer to Xiao Jing from now on.”

“It’s as if I’m not good to him now,” Lin Qingye glanced at Lin Zhi. “Did Yao Wenjing’s real dad visit the shop again this afternoon?”

“Not really,” Lin Zhi clapped his hands and stood up, preparing to leave. “Anyway, we should always be good to Xiao Jing, so he can feel the warmth of a family.”

After starting university, Lin Zhi didn’t need to complete as much homework as in high school during breaks. But Lu Liu wasn’t free enough to come to Lin Zhi’s family store every day to keep him company. Most of the time, they kept in touch through chatting and phone calls.

One day, they randomly talked about the few times Lu Liu had met Yao Wenjing before. Lin Zhi froze for a moment. Lu Liu had said that they met after his accident, but if he wasn’t around, how did Lu Liu and Yao Wenjing meet?

In the previous life, after more than a year, Lin Zhi encountered Yao Wenjing again in a bar. They exchanged contact information, but the friendship they once had was lost due to their respective family issues and a long period of no contact. The distance between them seemed to be shrouded in a thin veil, and it was difficult to return to how things used to be. The relationship became awkward, and they didn’t stay in touch often.

Before losing consciousness, Lin Zhi had just contacted Lu Liu, so Lu Liu must have been the first to know about his accident. But how did Yao Wenjing find out? Where did Lu Liu meet him? Was it in the hospital? Or at his funeral?

The funeral…

Lin Zhi suddenly felt an aching pain in his chest, and his breath became labored. He pressed his hand over his heart, curling his body. He thought, after he fell, his consciousness immediately shifted to when he was sleeping at his desk in sophomore year, but Lu Liu wasn’t. Not long ago, Lu Liu remembered things from the previous life, and besides remembering his death, he also recalled the few times he met with Yao Wenjing. What else did he remember?

“What’s wrong if I get jealous? You don’t even care about me.”

He thought that Lu Liu had no ulterior motive when he said that. He hadn’t really thought about the times Lu Liu met with Yao Wenjing and what Lu Liu had been busy with during that period.

He had even called Lu Liu childish.

Lin Zhi sniffled and cursed, “Are you an idiot, Lin Zhi?”

In the afternoon, the convenience store that only opened for half a day closed early, and the young owner, Lin Zhi, impulsively gave up the second half of the day’s business. Without wasting any time, he ran to the roadside and hailed a taxi to find the “little store owner.”

When Lin Zhi called, Lu Liu was reading a case about a criminal investigation. The first thing Lin Zhi said was, “Which building and floor do you live in?”

Lu Liu responded with a quiet, “Hm?”

“I’m at the entrance of XX community,” Lin Zhi said. “Tell me your apartment number, I miss you.”

Lu Liu paused for a moment before reacting, quickly walking outside. “Wait for me.”

“What for? It’s freezing,” Lin Zhi said, not wanting cold, romantic gestures. “Just tell me which building you’re in, and I’ll come over myself.”

Lu Liu reluctantly gave him the location and kept walking.

Lin Zhi asked for directions and, belatedly, asked, “Are your parents home?”

“They’ll be back later.”

High school students have later winter breaks. Lin Zhi and the others had been home for almost two weeks, while Feng Shuyun’s vocational school just started their break, and Lu Xueyi had picked her up.

The phone stayed connected, and Lu Liu’s voice trembled, his breath slightly uneven. Lin Zhi hadn’t walked far before seeing Lu Liu running toward him, his messy bangs blown to either side, revealing a smooth forehead, and his previously impeccable image now slightly disheveled.

“Why are you in such a hurry?” Lin Zhi laughed and then saw Lu Liu wearing only a thin home outfit, his expression suddenly serious. “You’re going out without a jacket!”

“When I see you, I just automatically get warm.”

“…Crazy.” Lin Zhi tried to suppress his laughter. “You’ll burn yourself.”

Lu Liu’s house was clean and bright, with calligraphy and paintings on the walls, giving it an artistic feel. On the balcony, there were plants, reflecting a cozy, lived-in atmosphere.

Lu Liu accompanied Lin Zhi to admire the green or withered plants for a while. Feeling bored, he suggested, “Want to go to my room?”

“What are we going to do in the room?” Lin Zhi feigned wariness. “I’m a serious person.”

Lu Liu, who wasn’t in the mood to pretend, didn’t waste words. He directly grabbed Lin Zhi and dragged him away.

The room was spacious, with a large window facing southwest, letting in a sliver of the winter sunlight. On the bookshelf above the computer desk, there were many books neatly arranged by category, almost all extracurricular. One row was mostly hardcover books, and Lin Zhi pulled one out to take a look, realizing they were all honor certificates.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” Lin Zhi kept clicking his tongue.

Lu Liu flicked his forehead with his fingers, dissatisfied. “Are you mocking me?”

Lin Zhi lightly exhaled and covered his forehead with his hand, saying, “I’m a smart person, just not so good with hearing. I don’t know what joke you heard, but I was just feeling proud of my boyfriend being so outstanding.”

“Sorry,” Lu Liu said insincerely, “I wronged you.”

“It’s fine,” Lin Zhi waved his hand, “I’m generous, so I won’t argue with you.”

“Heh.” Lu Liu laughed in annoyance, then reached for Lin Zhi’s waist, pinching his ticklish spot.

Lin Zhi couldn’t dodge in time and was pressed against the computer desk, his body being teased. He laughed so hard his eyes teared up and could only beg for mercy, “I’m sorry… Haha, I’m sorry, stop tickling… Ha…”

Lu Liu didn’t stop, still holding Lin Zhi in place with both hands, trapping him between the desk and his own body, their legs tangled together.

Lin Zhi leaned his weight on the desk, raising a finger to wipe his tears, both angry and amused. “I didn’t expect you to be this despicable. What’s so funny about tickling someone?”

“Hm?” Lu Liu raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t say that when you were apologizing earlier.”

“That’s called a hero not taking a loss in front of him.” Lin Zhi boasted proudly.

Lu Liu opened his mouth to speak, but Lin Zhi blinked and added, “I only take on the people in front of me.”

Then, he hooked his arm around Lu Liu’s neck and kissed him.

Lu Liu quickly took control, lifting Lin Zhi by the waist and placing him on the desk. Their chests pressed together, their heartbeats gradually syncing.

After a long time, Lin Zhi coughed, choking on saliva, and pulled back slightly to catch his breath. He rested his chin on Lu Liu’s shoulder, gasping.

Lu Liu kissed the back of his neck, with unfinished intentions, laughing. “Haven’t practiced in a few days, and you can’t even do this?”

“Shut up.” Lin Zhi lightly punched Lu Liu’s back, then paused, finally managing to recover. He held Lu Liu tightly, trying to sound nonchalant. “What happened after I died?”

Lu Liu was silent for a few seconds before answering, “Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”

“I want to know.” Lin Zhi nuzzled against his shoulder, coaxing, “Tell me, please.”

When Lu Liu saw Lin Zhi lying in a pool of blood, his world seemed to lose all its color.

Everything around them was chaotic and loud. Lin Zhi lay motionless, with only the blood that had just spilled from his body feeling warm for a moment, before quickly turning cold, just like the life signs that had disappeared.

The sight was truly terrifying. Passersby covered their children’s eyes, and adults couldn’t bear to look directly at it. Only Lu Liu stared unblinking at Lin Zhi.

He slowly approached, his white sneakers stained with blood. The short distance made his legs feel weak. He reached out his hand to touch Lin Zhi but hesitated, afraid that any movement might make Lin Zhi’s blood flow faster.

A kind passerby told him that an ambulance had been called and handed him Lin Zhi’s phone.

Lu Liu stared blankly as he took it. Usually polite, he couldn’t even remember to say thank you.

The nearest hospital sent an ambulance, and the few minutes it took felt like a century to Lu Liu.

The emergency medical team swiftly lifted Lin Zhi onto a stretcher. Lu Liu didn’t understand medical procedures and, not wanting to interfere with the treatment, followed the stretcher closely without leaving.

He was worried and scared. The rational, science-driven person in him began to pray silently. Yet, all of his thoughts seemed useless.

Lin Zhi passed away at 3:23:43 in the afternoon, his life signs completely gone on the stretcher as they were pushing him to the operating room.

Lu Liu didn’t scream or make a scene. He held Lin Zhi’s gradually cold hand and whispered things that couldn’t be heard clearly. The doctors and nurses tried to comfort him, telling him to stay strong.

He didn’t understand. He wasn’t the one who should be comforted.

Unable to reach Lin Zhi’s family, his body was taken to the morgue. Lu Liu was only able to confirm that they were high school classmates, and that was why he couldn’t take him back.

Lu Liu had no choice. He stayed at home, unable to hide what he was doing from his parents. In order to get their help, he confessed to them that he had been in a relationship with Lin Zhi.

Fortunately, his uncle, Lu Xueli, worked at the People’s Hospital. Even though it wasn’t his hospital, he quickly helped resolve the issue.

Afterwards, Lu Liu unlocked Lin Zhi’s phone and contacted Yao Wenjing. With his help, Lin Zhi’s ashes were buried in the same cemetery where Lin Qingye was.

Lin Zhi buried his face in Lu Liu’s shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.