Ji Mingxuan nodded slightly, talked to him for a few words, and took out a tube of burn ointment from the medicine box.

　　Shen Mo observed his expression and immediately guessed that he was the investor of this hotel.

　　Ji Mingxuan sent the manager away, turned to Shen Mo and said, “The light here is not good, go outside and apply the medicine.”

　　Shen Mo followed him out again. They found a sofa by the window in the lobby and sat down. Not long after they sat down, a waiter brought them coffee.

　　Ji Mingxuan ignored him and just held Shen Mo’s hand and slowly applied the burn medicine. While applying it, he asked, “Come to S Island for a tour?”

　　His tone was light, like an old friend whom I have known for many years.

　　Shen Mo replied: “I started painting again, and came out to find some inspiration.”

　　Ji Mingxuan nodded and said, “The scenery of S Island is nice…”

　　He casually mentioned some of the island’s customs and people, and Shen Mo cooperated well, chatting about the sunset on the beach and the sea view on the cliff. Both of them were a little absent-minded, but they managed to have a decent conversation.

　　Later, Ji Mingxuan paused and asked him, “Are you here alone?”

　　”Yes, I am the only one who is free.”

　　”When did you arrive on the island?”

　　”Just a few days ago…” Shen Mo paused in the middle of his sentence and didn’t continue.

　　How should I put it? Say that he chose to come to S Island on Ji Mingxuan’s birthday?

　　Shen Mo’s ears felt hot and he picked up the coffee cup to cover it up.

　　There was nothing to say to each other. Shen Mo didn’t dare to ask about Ji An’an. He had heard some news in China and knew that she had… Ji Mingxuan only had Ji An’an as a relative. I wonder how sad he was? Even Shen Mo felt bad for several days. Later, when he was recruiting, he hired Yang Yue, who had just graduated from university, because her lively personality was somewhat similar to Ji An’an.

　　Ji Mingxuan’s gestures when applying the medicine were very delicate, but no matter how slow he moved, the medicine would eventually be applied. After he finished applying the medicine, he looked at Shen Mo’s hand again and again and said, “It’s done.”

　　Shen Mo said blankly: “Oh.”

　　I don’t know whether to say thank you or goodbye next?

　　Ji Mingxuan did not let go of his hand, and the expression on his face was hard to read.

　　At this time, the sound of footsteps was heard.

　　Shen Mo saw a little boy of about three or four years old running towards him. He had black hair, fair skin, a pair of big eyes that rolled around, and was wearing a fitted suit. He was much more handsome than the foreign kids by the swimming pool.

　　There was no adult accompanying him, but he ran straight to Ji Mingxuan, threw himself into his arms, raised his face and shouted, “Daddy!”

　

　　Ji Mingxuan pinched his face and said, “Speak in Chinese.”

　　The boy blinked, feeling a little aggrieved, but still stammered, “Dad, Dad.”

　　Shen Mo was slapped in the face, half of his face was numb, and he felt that his little thoughts were ridiculous. How could he not have thought of it? Ji Mingxuan was never short of company.

　　At this time, a middle-aged woman dressed in a proper manner hurried over. She looked like a nanny or something like that. Ji Mingxuan gestured for her to step away, picked up the boy and sat him on his lap. He pointed at Shen Mo and said, “Say hello to uncle.”

　　The boy was very obedient. He first looked at Shen Mo and then said, “Hello, uncle.”

　　His facial features have not yet fully developed, but he has clearly inherited the good looks of the Ji family. With the small suit he is wearing, he looks like a little gentleman.

　　Even though Shen Mo felt mixed emotions, he couldn’t help but smile back at him.

　　”Hello,” he reached out and touched the boy’s soft black hair, and asked, “What’s your name?”

　　”Ning.” The boy’s Chinese was not very fluent, but his pronunciation was standard. “Jining.”

　　”How old is Xiao Ning this year?”

　　Ji Ning’s eyes were dark, and he slowly stretched out three fingers, looking quite proud, as if it was a great thing for him to grow to three years old.

　　Shen Mo guessed that Ji Mingxuan must have had the same demeanor when he was a child. He fell in love with this child for almost no reason.

　　”Are you hungry, Xiao Ning? Would you like some snacks?”

　　Ji Ning looked at Ji Mingxuan and said, “Dad doesn’t allow me to eat anything.”

　　He was not afraid of strangers at all, and took Shen Mo’s hand and said, “Uncle, play with me.”

　　Just as Shen Mo was about to answer, he heard Ji Mingxuan say, “Uncle’s hand is injured. I’ll play with you another day.”

　　As he spoke, he winked at the middle-aged woman, who immediately understood and came over to carry Ji Ning away. Ji Ning seemed to get along well with Shen Mo, and he leaned forward and waved at him: “Uncle, byebye——”

　　Shen Mo followed him for a while before turning back to look at Ji Mingxuan: “Xiao Ning is so cute.”

　　”He is usually very naughty at home, but behaves better outside.”

　　”Mr. Ji is here for vacation too?”

　　”I’m here to discuss business. There’s no one to take care of Ji Ning, so I have to bring him with me.”

　　Shen Mo’s face was still slightly hot, but his heart had calmed down. He said, “I didn’t know Mr. Ji was married. Congratulations.”

　　Ji Mingxuan looked at him steadily, then smiled a little, and unconsciously touched his left hand with his right hand. Shen Mo noticed that he was not wearing a wedding ring, but there was a thin white mark on his left ring finger, which was the mark left by wearing a ring for many years.

　　There were similar marks on Shen Mo’s hands.

　　Ji Mingxuan took a sip of coffee and asked, “What about you? Are you still with Zhou Yang?”

　　Zhou Yang?

　　Shen Mo had almost forgotten who Zhou Yang was. He could have lied a little, since Ji Mingxuan was far away in a foreign country and wouldn’t come to check who he was dating, but he still answered truthfully, “I haven’t seen Zhou Yang for several years.”

　　In fact, he had not contacted Zhou Yang since Ji Anan’s accident. He only heard some news occasionally, and knew that he had married the daughter of some company again.

　　Ji Mingxuan said “Ah” meaningfully, and said: “I thought…”

　　He didn’t finish his words, but they both knew what he was saying.

　　Shen Mo felt that he didn’t understand himself at all. After what happened to Ji An’an, how could he feel at ease being with Zhou Yang? What’s more… Jinxiu Villa…

　　Shen Mo took a deep breath and said, “I have been to the house in Jinxiu Villa. Mr. Ji, I remember some things from the past…”

　　Before he could finish his words, they were drowned out by Ji Ning’s loud shouting.

　　It turned out that he was playing with those foreign kids, playing a game of chase and escape. He ran and shouted, alternating between Chinese and English: “Dad! Daddy!”

　　Ji Mingxuan was attracted by the cry, turned around and nodded at him. He was already a father, so of course he put this first in everything.

　　Shen Mo suddenly came to his senses and realized that things were no longer the same as they were back then. What was the point of him bringing up those old stories? Was he waiting for Ji Mingxuan to introduce Mrs. Ji to him?

　　He felt as if he had drunk a glass of ice water on a winter day, and the heat on his face completely disappeared.

　　After Ji Mingxuan finished interacting with Ji Ning, he turned around and asked, “Sorry, what did you say just now?”

　　”Nothing,” Shen Mo smiled and said, “I mean, it’s getting late, I should almost leave.”

　　”Go back to the room?”

　　”yes.”

　　”Let’s have dinner together tonight.” Ji Mingxuan used a declarative sentence, still with his usual tone. Whether they pretended to be in love or break up, it was all up to him.

　　But Shen Mo didn’t follow his plan this time. “I’m going to paint in my room tonight. You know, when inspiration strikes, I’m most afraid of being interrupted.”

　　Ji Mingxuan expressed his understanding: “Then tomorrow.”

　　Shen Mo said: “Okay, let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

　　He stood up and stretched out his hand to shake with Ji Mingxuan. Ji Mingxuan was startled for a moment and gently held his hand.

　　Shen Mo said in a low voice: “Thank you.”

　　I don’t even know what I’m thanking you for.

　　He fled in panic. He did not paint when he returned to his room, but just opened the window to look at the sea view. Time passed in a blink of an eye and it was dusk. The sea was covered with rosy clouds, and the sunset on the cliff was deeply shocking.

　　Ji Mingxuan did not disturb Shen Mo, but asked the waiter to bring dinner and a tube of burn ointment. Shen Mo saw a note attached to the ointment, which detailed how many times a day to apply it, in Ji Mingxuan’s handwriting.

　　The last time he saw Ji Mingxuan’s calligraphy was when he found a key and a note in a gift Ji Mingxuan had given him many years ago. Later, he followed the address on the note to Jinxiu Villa and saw the paintings in the study.

　　At that moment Shen Mo knew that he must have missed something in the past.

　　After he broke up with Zhou Yang, he spent more than half a year in a daze and couldn’t remember what happened. He wanted to find Ji Mingxuan to find out what happened, but after contacting Ji Mingxuan, the other party refused to see him. He finally had to go to the hospital, and with the help of a psychologist, he remembered some things from the past –

　　Shen Mo didn’t speak for three days after he learned about Zhou Yang’s news. On the fourth day, Ji Mingxuan came to see him in the ward, and he suddenly said, “I want to call Zhou Yang.”

　　Ji Mingxuan frowned slightly, but still nodded and said, “Okay.”

　　Shen Mo was able to sit up from the bed, but one of his hands was wrapped in gauze and the other hand was on an IV, so he couldn’t make a call. Ji Mingxuan personally helped him dial Zhou Yang’s number.