Chapter 10: Tears

The nurse took a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to him, “This is your payment receipt.”

On it was the man’s phone number.

Ji Jinbai thought for a moment and sent a text message to the man: “Hello, Mr. Lu, this is Ji Jinbai. Thank you for bringing me to the hospital last night. Could you provide me with your bank account number so I can transfer the money to you?”

There was no reply yet.

“Thank goodness you’re okay. It’s all my fault for being too wild last night and not paying attention to you. It’s all my fault…”

Lu Mian stood by his bed, his face scrunched up in worry, speaking with a tone of guilt and helplessness.

If it hadn’t been for his Second Uncle passing by and saving him, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Lu Mian shuddered at the thought.

“Don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault. If it hadn’t happened this time, I wouldn’t have known I was allergic to alcohol. If not this time, it would have happened another time.”

Ji Jinbai shook his head, realizing that he would have to stay away from alcohol in the future. He felt a bit regretful.

“By the way, when did your Second Uncle leave?”

Speaking of this, Ji Jinbai felt a bit aggrieved. Although the man had taken care of him all night while he was unconscious, he had left without a word before Ji Jinbai woke up.

Thinking of waking up alone, Ji Jinbai felt a pang of sadness.

“He left at six in the morning. He had an important meeting at the company and couldn’t miss it, so he called me over and gave me all sorts of instructions to take good care of you.”

Lu Mian suddenly realized that there might be something going on between his best friend and his Second Uncle.

So he had taken care of him all night and left in the morning. Ji Jinbai’s frustration dissipated somewhat.

Lu Mian tentatively asked, “Xiao Bai, what do you think of my Second Uncle?”

“He’s excellent in every way—capable, handsome, with a great figure, and a good temper too,” Ji Jinbai replied earnestly, with a hint of personal bias.

When he was with the man, he felt that the man was unusually indulgent toward him.

It also made him experience a unique kind of affection that was reserved just for him.

Because of this, Ji Jinbai found himself growing fonder of the man, becoming more and more attached and dependent on him.

Seeing Ji Jinbai’s lovestruck expression, Lu Mian felt that his guess was probably spot on.

He exclaimed excitedly, “Holy crap, are you really going to become my Second Aunt in the future?”

Ji Jinbai looked at him calmly, a hint of joy in his eyes, “I really like him.”

After saying this, Ji Jinbai’s gaze became even more determined. This was the man he wanted to go all out for.

If Xiao Bai and his Second Uncle got together, he would have a strong ally whenever his Second Uncle punished him in the future.

With “Second Aunt” stepping in, his Second Uncle might just let him off the hook. Lu Mian was already envisioning his future blissful life.

I’m so clever!

“I’m rooting for you, hehehe… Maybe just standing in front of him will make my Second Uncle fall head over heels for you.”

“It’s not as exaggerated as you make it sound,” Ji Jinbai couldn’t help but laugh.

Back at the dorm, Luo Qin was also there.

“How are you feeling? Better?” he asked with concern.

Ji Jinbai nodded, indicating that he was fine, “I’m much better now.”

His phone dinged.

A text message from a somewhat familiar number.

—No need.

Ji Jinbai was stunned for a moment before realizing it was from Lu Tingshen. He quickly lowered his head to reply, refusing the offer.

“I have to pay you back; I can’t let you spend money for nothing. How about we add each other on WeChat? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

Ji Jinbai nervously awaited his reply. It had been so long, and the two of them hadn’t even added each other on WeChat yet.

After a few seconds, the other person replied: “—No need to pay me back.”

He still hadn’t answered whether they could add each other on WeChat.

Ji Jinbai bit his lip anxiously, feeling as though Mr. Lu didn’t really want to add him. After all, for someone of his stature, adding others on WeChat wasn’t something done lightly. WeChat was quite personal to them.

Perhaps sensing the awkwardness of his previous message, another text came through: “You can add me on WeChat using my phone number.”

Ji Jinbai’s overthinking instantly dissipated, and a relieved smile spread across his lips.

He copied the phone number into WeChat and found that the other person’s profile picture was a nighttime view from a window, and the name was simply “L.”

Ji Jinbai took off his shoes and lay down on the bed, staring at the chat interface with Lu Tingshen. It felt as though his emotions had found an outlet, and the grievances and lingering fear from the ordeal surged in his heart.

With slightly reddened eyes, he sent a voice message, softly saying, “Mr. Lu, I’m feeling a bit down. Could you comfort me? Just a little bit would be enough.”

Ji Jinbai stared at the screen expectantly, waiting for the man’s reply.

Lu Tingshen had just entered the conference room when his phone chimed. He opened the voice message.

The young man’s voice sounded pitiful, like a sad little puppy seeking its owner’s comfort and affection.

Lu Tingshen frowned, feeling a pang of heartache. He lowered his voice and sent a voice message in return, his tone carrying a uniquely magnetic charm.

“Little one, you’re upset.”

“Are you crying?”

Beside him, his secretary, Qing Shiru, curiously leaned over, her face filled with gossip. She seemed to have caught a whiff of her boss’s hidden secret.

She had actually heard the usually reserved and aloof boss speaking in a gentle, doting tone, calling someone “little one.”

Something was definitely off. Very off.

Lu Tingshen glanced up and gave her a calm but piercing look, causing Qing Shiru to feel a wave of unease.

Ji Jinbai bit his lip stubbornly and said, “I’m not crying. Don’t make things up.”