Yu Sen didn’t sleep soundly. There was always the fear of unknown dangers in such a place, and he was also worried about Si Xuanyang’s safety. In fact, the more his body felt heavy and powerless, the less restorative his sleep was, even in dreams. Without IV fluids, medication, or nutritional support, and unable to relax fully, such slumber only made his body more exhausted. When Si Xuanyang woke him up, his eyes took a long time to focus.

After a bit of effort to adjust to the light, Yu Sen saw Si Xuanyang staring at him with a face as if the sky had fallen, his eyes red. He couldn’t help but laugh softly: “Why are you staring at me like that? You scared me.”

Si Xuanyang didn’t speak, as if confirming something. He leaned in and hugged him, burying his face in Yu Sen’s neck, his voice hoarse: “I called you, called for a long time, but you didn’t wake up…”

— I was afraid you might never wake up again.

He didn’t dare to say this, but Yu Sen heard it in his heart.

With a large, golden-haired man pressing on him, it wasn’t heavy at all. Si Xuanyang dared not press down too hard, afraid he might crush this fragile body.

Yu Sen held the back of Si Xuanyang’s neck, gently caressing: “My biggest hobby is sleeping, you know that. Opening my eyes doesn’t mean I’m awake because of morning grumpiness, hehe…”

As he spoke, he laughed, remembering how Si Xuanyang had canceled his lie-in time to make him exercise when they were at the villa. One time he got up early and was in a terrible mood, and pretended to have ‘amnesia,’ which Si Xuanyang believed, scaring him half to death and causing chaos in the house…

Yu Sen felt soft-hearted. When he wasn’t teasing, this kid’s feelings were really straightforward in front of him: fear, trust, anxiety, concern… all emotions were displayed very directly.

“If you keep pressing on me, I won’t be able to breathe,” Yu Sen patted Si Xuanyang’s neck.

Si Xuanyang hurriedly stood up, nervously looking down at him: “I wasn’t pressing hard. Did I hurt you? Where does it hurt?”

“…Just kidding,” Yu Sen said innocently, without a hint of shame.

Si Xuanyang naturally couldn’t be angry, rubbed a bit of pink color into Yu Sen’s pale lips, and helped him sit up: “Let’s eat something, okay? Otherwise, your body won’t hold up.”

Yu Sen was helped to sit up, his injured right hand hanging limply by his side.

He smiled and sighed: “Our precious Yang Yang is so authoritative. Even if I said no, you’d probably make me eat. Right, Yang Yang? Don’t look so glum; give me a smile.”

“……I can’t smile. I won’t be able to smile until your body recovers.”

“Tsk, you little brat.”

The smile on Yu Sen’s face gradually faded as well. He could actually feel it—the body was becoming weaker and weaker, as if all the vitality had drained away along with the blood loss from the morning. Even eating something seemed like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water.

What he needed now was to leave this place as soon as possible and return to the embrace of modern medical care.

---

There were signs in the theater that prohibited bringing food into the private rooms, so Yu Sen could only go to the dining area to eat, half-embraced by Si Xuanyang.

It was already past two in the afternoon. The leftovers from lunch looked incredibly unappetizing, but under Si Xuanyang’s silent, sad, and worried gaze, Yu Sen still forced some food into his stomach.

After a brief rest, Si Xuanyang led him to the audience seating area in the theater lobby. He gently kissed Yu Sen on the lips and said, “When the program starts, move to a spot where there are more people.”

Yu Sen was a little surprised. “You’re not going to sit with me?”

He glanced at Si Nan and Luo Yu, frowning slightly. “Are you planning to make a move?”

Si Nan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and admitted, “We’ve already agreed with a few others. We’ll work together when the time comes. Their ‘Mirror’ is intact, so we have a good chance.”

“But we haven’t figured out the connection between the two Ruan Xin yet. What if something goes wrong…” Yu Sen was a bit anxious.

“But your body can’t wait any longer,” Si Nan sighed, glancing at the downcast Si Xuanyang. He hadn’t seen how crazy Si Xuanyang had been treating Yu Sen’s illness at home a few days ago, but the breakdown and gloomy look from that morning had scared him.

From childhood to now, this younger brother was always the type to lash out and act aggressively when slightly dissatisfied. The family’s wealth and harmony meant he’d never had to endure any devastating pain early on. When had he ever been in such a state—so repressed and desperate that he couldn’t even speak, tears falling one by one as he clung to Yu Sen? It made Si Nan believe in an instant that if Yu Sen couldn’t return to the real world, he would lose his brother forever.

Si Nan sighed and shook his head, patting Yu Sen on the shoulder to comfort him. “The food here doesn’t really replenish energy. It’s not just you; everyone’s strength is slowly draining away. The longer we wait, the harder it gets. The others agreed to act together because they also want to end this quickly.”

Glancing at the silent, downcast Si Xuanyang, Yu Sen knew that when it came to matters concerning him, this person was an absolute dictator—once he made up his mind, nothing could change it.

“So, you’re separating me so you can sit in the front row and make your move?” Yu Sen lifted Si Xuanyang’s chin with his index finger, staring at him.

“……Yes.” Si Xuanyang stared back at him without blinking.

Suddenly, Yu Sen smiled with interest. “Then how can you guarantee that, without you, when there’s danger in the back row, those ‘companions’ around me won’t push me out as cannon fodder or a shield? After all, with my current strength, I might be easier to push over than a little girl.”

As soon as he said this, he clearly saw Si Xuanyang’s pupils constrict sharply. Si Xuanyang grabbed his hand, a flash of panic in his eyes.

His hand hurt from the grip. Over time, Yu Sen had noticed that the young man had almost lost all sense of security. Yu Sen sighed and stopped scaring him. “I’m just talking about a very unlikely possibility. After all, I’m not unlucky every single moment. But… I do have to sit with you in the front row.”

Si Xuanyang frowned. “No.”

“No?” Yu Sen tilted his head and sneered, a spark of defiance shining through his sickly, tired expression.

“—Have you forgotten who brought all of you back to your senses yesterday when you were all dazed? Without your S-class, tenacious and sharp-minded Yu Ge, you guys really wouldn’t make it.”