By the time Ji Yuzhou returned to the hospital, it was already past 11 p.m.

The investigation had not gone well. The abnormal energy fluctuation had quickly disappeared, and despite their efforts, they found no trace of the pirate group.

Massaging his temples in exhaustion, Ji Yuzhou walked into the hospital room. According to the doctor, after Jiang Xunyu woke up in the afternoon, they had conducted various tests. His physical indicators were all normal, and his dizziness and discomfort were confirmed to be caused by a stress reaction.

The numerous tests had drained Jiang Xunyu’s energy. Combined with the earlier emotional strain, the hospital room was now quiet when Ji Yuzhou entered.

Jiang Xunyu had fallen asleep.

He was curled up on the bed into a small ball, holding a white bundle in his arms—a posture indicative of a desperate need for security. As Ji Yuzhou moved closer, he realized the white bundle wasn’t a blanket but his coat.

Jiang Xunyu was clutching it tightly, as if afraid someone would take it away. To an outsider, it might have looked like a precious treasure.

Ji Yuzhou was momentarily speechless. He reached out to tuck the blanket around Jiang Xunyu.

But Jiang Xunyu was a light sleeper. As soon as Ji Yuzhou’s fingers brushed against him, he stirred, turning over with a faint murmur and blinking his sleepy eyes open.

“Mr. Ji, you’re here!” Jiang Xunyu, still half-asleep, thought he was dreaming. Subconsciously, he let his inner thoughts slip. When he saw Ji Yuzhou, his eyes lit up, and there was even a hint of a pleading tone in his voice. “I thought… I thought you didn’t want me anymore…”

Freshly woken, Jiang Xunyu’s eyes still carried a misty sheen. His naturally blue eyes glistened like they were filled with water, outshining the most brilliant deep-sea gemstones.

At that moment, all of Ji Yuzhou’s fatigue seemed to melt away. He let out a soft “Mm” and asked gently, “How are you feeling now? Any better?”

The sound of Ji Yuzhou’s voice and his close proximity made Jiang Xunyu realize this wasn’t a dream. He struggled to sit up, lips pressing together as he quickly reverted to his usual timid demeanor. “I-I’m fine now. Thank you, Mr. Ji.”

Ji Yuzhou noted every small movement and expression, a trace of pity flashing through his heart. The boy was still holding back his emotions. Even in front of him, he seemed slightly more at ease, but at school, he was far more withdrawn. The head of the school had even subtly mentioned that he was too isolated.

But this wasn’t something that could be rushed. It would take time.

Ji Yuzhou closed his eyes briefly and softened his tone. “Do you want to stay here tonight, or go back?”

Without much thought, Jiang Xunyu replied, “I’d like to go back.”

“Alright.” Ji Yuzhou nodded and, after Jiang Xunyu got ready, they drove home.

As they left the hospital, a light drizzle began to fall.

On the drive, Jiang Xunyu kept holding Ji Yuzhou’s coat. Perhaps because he had been clutching it while sleeping, the coat was now wrinkled. Ji Yuzhou pretended not to notice and said nothing about it.

The ride was silent.

As they neared home, Jiang Xunyu finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and spoke softly, “Mr. Ji, your coat…”

“Hmm?” Ji Yuzhou, still focused on the road ahead, responded without much thought. “Aren’t you holding it?”

Jiang Xunyu lowered his head, speaking slowly, “I’m sorry… I got it dirty. I’ll wash it, iron it, and return it to you.”

His voice was tense, full of guilt. Ji Yuzhou smiled faintly, a hint of teasing in his tone. “Why so well-behaved now? Weren’t you the one who’d rather be punished than tell me the truth before?”

Jiang Xunyu froze, his gaze dropping further. Of course, Ji Yuzhou was always perceptive. He must have already figured out the full story behind what happened with Zhuo Xingchang that day.

Fidgeting with the coat clutched in his hands, Jiang Xunyu suddenly realized it was Ji Yuzhou’s coat. Startled, he let go immediately, his fingers awkwardly interlocking with each other. “I… I just didn’t know how to explain it to you.”

Outside, the rain intensified, the sound of raindrops hitting the damp leaves creating a rhythmic “plop, plop.” Ji Yuzhou drove the car into the garage, parked it, and turned his attention to Jiang Xunyu. “I’ll give you another chance. Have you figured out how to explain it now?”

Jiang Xunyu’s hands twisted together unconsciously, pulling at the edges of his nails until a bit of skin tore. Ji Yuzhou paused, ready to tell him to head upstairs first, when he heard a muffled voice.

“I… I’ve thought it through.”

“He insulted you. I didn’t like it.”

The words were short and simple, yet each one was spoken with difficulty, forced out as if they carried immense weight. Jiang Xunyu had always struggled to express his emotions, especially when it came to Ji Yuzhou. He wasn’t scared of him but felt an inexplicable shyness in his presence.

Hearing this, Ji Yuzhou froze. His hand, which had been reaching for the car door, stopped mid-air.

He had heard the student’s mutterings that day but had dismissed them as a petty argument between kids. He never expected that Jiang Xunyu’s actions were entirely for his sake.

Ji Yuzhou retracted his hand in silence and asked, “Is that the only reason?”

Jiang Xunyu didn’t know what Ji Yuzhou was thinking and assumed he didn’t believe him. Panic-stricken, he quickly replied, “I’m really not lying to you.”

Ji Yuzhou remained quiet for a moment longer before letting out a soft chuckle.

At his age and position, he had faced countless real dangers—assassination attempts, treacherous schemes. He had long learned to ignore petty insults or idle gossip. Yet Jiang Xunyu’s actions made it glaringly obvious—there was someone who cared. Someone who cared deeply, enough to fight for what he himself had always dismissed as trivial.

Ji Yuzhou glanced at Jiang Xunyu, his voice carrying an unexpected gentleness. “Does it still hurt?”

“Huh?” Jiang Xunyu blinked in confusion, not following Ji Yuzhou’s train of thought. His blue eyes, hazy with puzzlement, stared back at him.

Ji Yuzhou lowered his gaze slightly, suppressing the flicker of emotion rising within him. “From yesterday. When I hit you. Does it still hurt?”

“Oh…It’s fine now, really. Look,” Jiang Xunyu said quickly, worried Ji Yuzhou wouldn’t believe him. He pulled his hands out of his sleeves to show him, but as soon as his hands were exposed to the chilly garage air, he let out a loud sneeze.

Ji Yuzhou immediately stopped him. “It’s cold in the garage. Head upstairs first.”

Jiang Xunyu nodded sheepishly, stepping out of the car and heading inside. Ji Yuzhou followed behind, but his sharp ears picked up a faint rustling noise. His movements slowed as his hand instinctively moved toward his sidearm.

To his surprise, it was a small, shivering kitten.

The kitten was trembling in the pouring rain, its fur soaked and water dripping down its tiny body. It seemed to be searching for shelter but couldn’t get past the protective shield around the garage.

Normally, Ji Yuzhou wouldn’t spare a second glance at a stray cat. He was the type to let such creatures fend for themselves. But an image of Jiang Xunyu gently interacting with a kitten flashed through his mind. After a moment’s thought, Ji Yuzhou adjusted the protective shield slightly, creating a small opening for the kitten to enter.

The kitten stared at him with wide eyes, meowing softly before entering and curling up in a corner of the garage, licking its drenched fur.

Ji Yuzhou looked away, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, and headed upstairs.