TMWTGD CH41

Having contracted this half-dead illness, Xie Jianwei remained remarkably unperturbed. He even engaged in an in-depth discussion with Yan Ke in his mind regarding the optimal treatment method, strictly from the perspective of galactic era medicine, of course.

Yan Ke rambled on with a stream of academic jargon, to which Xie Jianwei remarked, “This is actually a viable research avenue. Destruction and remodeling have always complemented each other.”

Hearing this, Yan Ke’s eyes lit up. “My Lord, are you referring to human body reconstruction technology?”

Thinking of the several versions of Lu Li soaking in nutrient tanks, Xie Jianwei felt an ache in his chest. “Right now, I only want to destroy that technology.”

Yan Ke chuckled sheepishly. “The benefits still outweigh the drawbacks. By reconstructing the body, humanity can break through its physical shackles and pursue immortality.”

Xie Jianwei was merely venting his frustration. After all, nobody else would be as reckless as the Lord Marshal, courting disaster to the point of splitting himself apart only to kill his own fragments.

While they chatted in carefree amusement, Lu Li outside felt as though he had plummeted into an abyss.

When the medical report was issued, his vision went black, hit by a shock far more violent than if his own name had been printed on the page.

Xie Jianwei and death.

Piecing those two concepts together, all he could feel was an overwhelming terror, blanketing his chest like heavy storm clouds.

Though he knew he might never win Xie Jianwei’s heart in this lifetime, he still believed he could keep the person by his side.

It did not matter if the youth did not love him; spending a lifetime together like this was enough to satisfy him.

Yet now, an insurmountable force had intervened, as even fate seemed intent on snatching him away.

Lu Li was engulfed by profound helplessness.

Failing to win his heart had already left him insecure, and now even his physical presence felt translucent and impossible to hold.

He could not die.

Xie Jianwei could not die.

The doctor had provided a clear treatment plan. Modern medicine’s most effective remedy for this condition was a bone marrow transplant. With a high degree of compatibility, zero rejection could be achieved post-surgery, leading to full recovery.

If a transplant proved impossible, given Xie Jianwei’s current condition, he would not survive long, and that brief remaining span would be steeped in agony and despair.

The doctor asked, “Are Mr. Xie’s family members still alive?”

Lu Li paused, speaking slowly, “He has an older brother.”

Xie Jianwei’s mother had passed away long ago, while his father and two older brothers had committed suicide in prison. The only relative left was Xie Zhiwei.

The doctor was quite pleased to hear this and said, “We hope to proceed with tissue typing as soon as possible. Although siblings are typically only a partial match, a transplant can still proceed if the compatibility is adequate.”

Lowering his gaze, Lu Li said, “I will arrange it as soon as possible.”

Pausing slightly, Lu Li added, “Please do not inform him yet.”

The doctor nodded in understanding, “Rest assured, we will follow the family’s wishes.”

Once the doctor left, Lu Li stood in the empty corridor, letting the chill draft blowing through the window sweep straight into his chest, wrapping around a heart that was already nearly numb.

When Xie Jianwei woke up, Lu Li was already sitting vigil by his bedside.

He turned his head toward him, “Senior.”

Having watched over him all night, Lu Li was holding his hand with eyes closed. Hearing his voice, he opened them immediately, an anxious look flashing across his eyes. “Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Xie Jianwei said, “I’m alright, feeling much better after some sleep.” He chuckled, glancing around before asking in apparent surprise, “A hospital? Am I in a hospital?”

Lu Li said, “You fainted on set.”

Xie Jianwei said, “There was no need for hospitalization though. I probably just overexerted myself from filming continuously lately.”

Hearing those words brought a sharp prick to Lu Li’s heart. It had been his own negligence; he shouldn’t have listened to him and packed the schedule so tightly. Filming without rest was enough to strain even a healthy person, let alone Xie Jianwei.

Xie Jianwei continued, “Still, I really should start exercising. My stamina is awful.”

Lu Li’s gaze dimmed.

Xie Jianwei turned to look at him again, “Senior, let’s work out together once we return home!” As he spoke, he blinked flirtatiously, his gaze dropping to Lu Li’s abdomen. “I’m so jealous of your abs!”

That playful, teasing demeanor would normally have prompted Lu Li to pull him into a kiss, but right now, remembering Xie Jianwei’s condition made his heart knot in sour sorrow, every breath pulling at his bones with ache.

“Senior?”

Lu Li replied, “Alright. Whatever you want to do, we’ll do it together.”

Xie Jianwei smiled, seeming a bit weary, and turning his head slightly, he quietly drifted off to sleep.

Despite contracting a terminal illness, Xie Jianwei lived quite comfortably.

He was finally spared from running around filming, doing promotions, and attending variety shows. The life of an entertainer was hardly fit for humans; aside from entertaining others, one had zero leisure time for oneself.

Now things were wonderful. He lay in bed, browsing the web, playing games, and thinking of Lu Li whenever bored. Aside from the lack of lovemaking, everything was practically perfect.

What was more, with the Will of God in play, Xie Jianwei was spared from feeling any physical agony whatsoever. He merely fatigued easily, often nodding off by accident while playing.

His Big Li’s mindset at this moment was likely along the lines of wanting no pain to reach him, wishing for him to rest as much as possible.

Because this will was so intense, Xie Jianwei felt no pain at all, not even from routine blood draws and tests, which was genuinely remarkable.

Lu Li remained by his side throughout, casting aside all work, fully ready to forfeit everything if Xie Jianwei did not recover.

Xie Jianwei reminded him several times, “Senior, you don’t need to stay with me constantly. It’s not a major illness, I’ll be fine after a couple of days of rest.”

Lu Li was peeling a mandarin orange for him. Hearing this, he didn’t even look up, simply breaking off a segment and feeding it into his mouth. “I have nothing pressing lately.”

Xie Jianwei said, “How could that be? With an enterprise as massive as Tengfei Media, how could there be nothing to do?”

Lu Li said, “Those matters are handled while you sleep.” He paused, finally coming up with a plausible excuse, “There is a time difference, after all.”

Day here was night back home, and day back home was night here. Put that way, it sounded somewhat reasonable.

Xie Jianwei happily played the salted fish for two days. When he woke on the third day, Lu Li was nowhere to be seen.

Yan Ke’s little brain had grown sharper as well. “I bet Xie Zhiwei has arrived in Country M.”

Calculating the timing, it checked out. A day to get in touch, and with the crawling speed of ancient airplanes, traveling from City S to Country M would take until today at the earliest.

Xie Jianwei smiled.

Yan Ke asked, “My Lord, what are your plans?”

Xie Zhiwei would certainly stir up trouble, and he wondered how the Military Advisor intended to counter it.

Xie Jianwei said with serene confidence, “There is no need to do anything.”

Yan Ke had guessed correctly. Xie Zhiwei had indeed arrived in Country M. After such a long flight, his complexion was far from radiant, his face lined with weariness and exhaustion.

Yet Lu Li gave him no time to rest, laying out the situation with blunt directness.

Xie Zhiwei had already known this prior to arriving. He paused before saying, “Jianwei is my brother, and I owe him a great deal. With him afflicted by this illness, I certainly won’t stand by and do nothing.”

Lu Li said, “That would be best. I have arranged for tissue typing this afternoon, so we will proceed as soon as possible.”

Before he could finish, Xie Zhiwei shifted his tone, his voice dropping low, “I have one condition.”

Lu Li’s eyes narrowed sharply, staring at Xie Zhiwei without blinking. “He is your brother.”

Xie Zhiwei met his gaze without fear. “Yes, precisely because he is my brother, I must demand this condition!”

Lu Li said, “Speak.”

Xie Zhiwei said, “Break up with him.”

Although he had anticipated it, hearing those words still made Lu Li grind his teeth.

Xie Zhiwei repeated, “You two are entirely unsuited for each other. Even though the Xie family has fallen, I still have the means to care for him. I will not let him degrade himself like this.”

Lu Li said, “And if I refuse?”

Xie Zhiwei’s expression turned icy. “Our Xie family has no need for a child who can only survive by relying on a man!”

With a dull thud, right as the words left his mouth, Lu Li drove a fist into his face, speaking in a low, raspy growl, “What right do you have to speak of him that way?”

Jerked aside by the blow, fresh blood welled from the corner of Xie Zhiwei’s mouth, yet his voice remained remarkably calm. “I owe him, and I will make amends, but precisely because I am his elder brother, I cannot watch him sink into depravity!”

Was being with him considered depravity? Clenching his fists tightly, Lu Li took a deep breath and said, “Do the screening first.”

It was too early to discuss terms; waiting until compatibility was established would not be too late.

Xie Zhiwei said, “Fine, but remember this. If you refuse my condition, I would rather disown this brother!”

Leaving those words behind, Xie Zhiwei walked away, leaving Lu Li shrouded in dark gloom.

Did Xie Zhiwei truly care that much about Xie Jianwei?

Not necessarily.

What was he really plotting?

Turmoil churned in Lu Li’s chest, yet his mind remained unusually lucid.

He could not force a bone marrow harvest by coercion, so he had to agree to his terms.

It seemed that only by agreeing could he discover what the man was truly after.

Above all, the urgent priority was pulling Xie Jianwei out of danger as quickly as possible.

He refused to let him suffer even a fraction of pain.

The following day, Lu Li accompanied Xie Zhiwei for tissue typing. When the low-resolution results arrived, the doctor was thrilled, saying, “A six-point match. Proceed with high-resolution typing immediately. Reaching eight points is sufficient for a bone marrow transplant.”

Reaching a full ten-point match would naturally be the ideal scenario.

Everything unfolded exactly as Xie Jianwei had predicted. When the final report came out, the doctors nearly wondered if Xie Zhiwei and Xie Jianwei were identical twins.

A one-hundred-percent match; there could not be a more ideal donor.

While the medical team was ecstatic over the outcome, Xie Jianwei remained thoroughly calm. How could it be otherwise? Two wills sharing a single dream, both wishing for success; it would be bizarre if it failed.

With the match confirmed, Xie Zhiwei asked Lu Li, “What do you say?”

Staring at him, Lu Li said, “I agree.”

Xie Zhiwei smiled and added, “Merely agreeing is not enough, it must be put into practice.”

Lu Li asked, “What do you mean?”

Xie Zhiwei said, “Jianwei’s condition is stable for now. For the sake of his emotional well-being, do not tell him about the illness yet. Let him relax for a while, and we will perform the surgery once all preparations are complete.”

Lu Li waited for him to continue.

Xie Zhiwei said, “So during this period, I want you to date me.”

Lu Li narrowed his eyes. “You think he likes me?”

Xie Zhiwei said, “Whether he does or not, as long as we are dating, he will certainly never touch his brother’s man.”

Lu Li grasped his logic, though to him, it mattered little. Xie Jianwei had never loved him anyway; no matter who Lu Li was with, the youth would likely only regret losing a wealthy backer.

Lu Li said, “Strictly an act.”

Xie Zhiwei said, “Agreed.”

For two consecutive days, Xie Jianwei caught no glimpse of Lu Li. Even on the day of his discharge, Lu Li did not come to pick him up.

Pouting with displeasure, Xie Jianwei remarked, “Looks like he was seduced away by a vixen.”

Yan Ke thought to himself that aside from his Lordship, who else could possibly sway the Lord Marshal?

Still, all of this fell within their expectations, requiring only their dedicated performance.

Xie Jianwei still had commitments in Country M, needing to reshoot a few frames and assist with promotional activities.

Naturally, Lu Li had given strict orders beforehand forbidding anyone from overworking him.

Work became little more than casual recreation. Xie Jianwei felt no physical discomfort whatsoever, showing no abnormality other than sleeping more deeply at night.

After several days of Lu Li vanishing without a trace, it was only natural for Xie Jianwei to act restless. Having sent countless text messages without receiving a single reply, he finally dialed his number.

The automated response informed him that the subscriber was currently unavailable.

Setting his phone down, Xie Jianwei instructed his assistant to call continuously.

After seven or eight consecutive attempts, the prompt changed to indicate that the phone was powered off.

Xie Jianwei was left speechless.

Right then, in-dream Yan Ke walked in. Glancing over and spotting the extensive call log, he asked in surprise, “What happened?”

Xie Jianwei said expressionlessly, “I can’t reach Senior Lu.”

Yan Ke remarked, “Speaking of which, I think I just saw him on set.”

Xie Jianwei moved to stand up, but Yan Ke grabbed him, studying him with uncharacteristic seriousness. “What is going on?”

Xie Jianwei summarized briefly.

Frowning, Yan Ke asked, “You haven’t been able to reach him for days?”

Xie Jianwei replied, “Mm.”

Pausing, Yan Ke ventured, “Could it be that Best Actor Lu wants to break things off with you?”

Xie Jianwei froze visibly.

Watching his expression, Yan Ke said cautiously, “The timing is about right after all. You two…”

Xie Jianwei closed his eyes, and when he opened them, calm had returned to his gaze. “Breaking it off is fine, but things must be stated clearly.”

Yan Ke studied him, breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing he wasn’t overly emotional. Perhaps Xie Jianwei truly had treated Best Actor Lu as merely a patron.

At the celebratory banquet for Star Wars, Xie Jianwei finally saw Lu Li after days of absence.

Their eyes met, and just as Xie Jianwei moved to walk over, his gaze caught the man standing beside him.

Xie Zhiwei.

Both wore matching bespoke suits, their intimate rapport unmistakable.

Xie Jianwei’s steps halted, his brow furrowing slightly.

Beside him, Yan Ke tugged gently at his sleeve, whispering, “Don’t go over there, whatever you do.”

Naturally, Xie Jianwei had no intention of going over. Yan Ke murmured, “I only heard recently that Best Actor Lu has always harbored a true love.” He gestured toward him. “That one right there, the Third Young Master of the Xie family. Once untouchable atop the clouds, now fallen to earth to walk among us mortals.”

Xie Jianwei said nothing. Yan Ke sighed and continued, “I was wondering why Best Actor Lu favored you so much. Turns out…” He stopped short, glancing at Xie Jianwei.

Finishing the sentence for him, Xie Jianwei said, “Because I was merely that person’s substitute.”

Yan Ke patted his shoulder, “Don’t dwell on it. You two were in a transactional arrangement from the beginning.”

Xie Jianwei curved his lips into an ironic smile.

Since Xie Jianwei did not approach Lu Li, Lu Li naturally made no move toward him either, busy cultivating intimacy with his white moonlight.

Yan Ke could not help reminding Xie Jianwei in his mind, “My Lord, it’s just an act, we have to play along!”

Xie Jianwei replied, “I know.”

Yan Ke said, “I have absolute confidence in you.”

Out of nowhere, Xie Jianwei added, “Still, it’s quite infuriating.”

Yan Ke was at a loss for words. Had he forgotten to turn on the recording function? He had missed a golden opportunity to make a fortune. If he captured footage of Military Advisor Xie acting jealous, the Lord Marshal would surely shower him with promotions and wealth.

Now that Lu Li and Xie Zhiwei were supposedly together, Xie Jianwei’s script had to run smoothly.

He could neither show anger nor heartbreak because he did not love Lu Li; he even had to offer congratulations on his wish being fulfilled.

He had to execute this performance to perfection. If Lu Li noticed his sorrow, his genuine feelings would be exposed. If Lu Li believed he loved him, the emotional fallout would be unbearable. If Xie Jianwei was subjected to such agony, Big Li would go mad.

The Lord Marshal’s temperament was simple. Self-inflicted torment was fine, and having thirty blades driven into his chest wouldn’t make him blink, but laying a finger on his Military Advisor was forbidden. Seeing his darling suffer even slightly would cause him to explode.

Xie Jianwei socialized with an unruffled expression, drinking no alcohol while downing plenty of juice.

When he stepped into the restroom and emerged, he ran straight into Xie Zhiwei.

Xie Zhiwei had evidently been waiting for him, his face filled with guilt and cautious hesitation. “Jianwei…”

Xie Jianwei washed his hands with lowered eyes, not sparing him a glance.

Feeling awkward, Xie Zhiwei murmured, “I… Lu Li and I…”

Xie Jianwei looked at him through the mirror. “You two are together?”

Lowering his gaze, Xie Zhiwei murmured, “I’m sorry.”

Xie Jianwei said, “What is there to be sorry about? He and I had an agreement long ago: the moment he found someone he loved, we’d break things off.”

Xie Zhiwei still appeared uneasy as he said, “I truly… can’t forget him.”

“Enough,” Xie Jianwei said with irritation. “Don’t sicken me with all this romantic nonsense. Do whatever you please, the two of you. Just hand over a generous ‘breakup settlement’ later, and I won’t fuss over it.”

Having said that, he turned and strode away without a shred of lingering reluctance.

Left standing in the restroom, the corners of Xie Zhiwei’s lips curved upward.

The moment Xie Jianwei pushed open the door, he spotted the man standing outside.

Evidently, this had all been staged in advance; Xie Zhiwei had known all along that Lu Li was right outside.

Xie Jianwei froze visibly for a second, then actually laughed. “He’s inside.” Both knew full well who “he” referred to.

Lu Li stared at him motionless. Thinking for a moment, Xie Jianwei said, “Actually, there’s no need to dodge me, nor any need to avoid my calls. In any case, we agreed long ago to part on good terms, so why make things so…”

Before he could finish, Lu Li cut him off: “You…” He wanted to ask, Do you truly not care? Yet he couldn’t bring himself to utter the words.

In the end, Xie Jianwei voiced it for him: “To tell the truth, I feel a bit disgusted. How should I put it—Xie Zhiwei is my older brother after all. Screwing the younger brother and then bedding the older one, isn’t that being a little too crude?”

Lu Li stood rigid as a board, his thin lips pressed into a near-straight line, cold yet fragile.

Yet Xie Jianwei chuckled again, adding, “Or did I say it backward—bedding the older brother before screwing the younger? Well… it doesn’t matter anyway. Who doesn’t have a peculiar kink or two?”

With that, he sidestepped Lu Li, preparing to leave: “I wish you two sweet bliss and growing old together.”

Lu Li abruptly clamped a hand around his wrist.

Xie Jianwei looked at him with feigned puzzlement.

Lu Li had no idea how he managed to voice a sound; all he knew was that as he spoke, his chest and throat burned with searing heat, as though flowing through him was not breath, but thick, scalding lava.

“Xie Zhiwei and I are together.”

Xie Jianwei’s expression remained entirely nonchalant: “I know.”

“Do you truly not care?”

Xie Jianwei pondered for a second, blinking with a grin: “Of course I care…” He leaned close to Lu Li, whispering right against his ear, “Once we break things off, where else will I ever find such a wonderful senior as you? After all… you truly are good, magnificent in every single way.” Those last words dripped with heavy innuendo.

Lu Li finally released his wrist.

Xie Jianwei said, “I don’t play the third wheel, but if you break up with my brother, you’re welcome to come back to me anytime.”

Having scattered a ground full of daggers, Military Advisor Xie strolled gracefully away.

Yan Ke’s guts trembled from the angst: “My Lord, isn’t this going a bit…”

Xie Jianwei said, “I merely slipped into the scenario for a moment.”

Yan Ke: “…”

Xie Jianwei said, “If Lu Li ever actually pulled something like this…”

Yan Ke chimed in at once, “The Lord Marshal would never betray you!”

Xie Jianwei said, “True. He can’t hide a single thing from me. If he ever truly cheated, well…”

Yan Ke felt those unsaid words were definitely—I’d slaughter him.

In the past, he had only thought the Lord Marshal’s possessiveness was terrifying, but in reality… Military Advisor Xie wasn’t one bit behind!

It was merely that the Military Advisor was far too intelligent and knew his lover’s loyal dog nature all too well, leaving him with no occasion to show it.

In truth, once genuine jealousy flared up, both of them were the apocalyptic, world-destroying type.

To make the performance even more convincing, Xie Jianwei pressed forward with a second act.

He deliberately grabbed the gossipy in-dream Yan Ke for a chat in a hallway where Lu Li and Xie Zhiwei were bound to pass by.

Looking deeply worried, Yan Ke asked, “Best Actor Lu won’t make things difficult for you, will he?”

Xie Jianwei said, “How could he? He’s the one who grew tired first. I’m the victim here, alright?”

Yan Ke was silent for a beat. “I truly can’t see where you’re hurting at all.”

Xie Jianwei exaggerated, “I am terribly heartbroken!”

Yan Ke roasted him: “Cut the act already. You were sick of it long ago, weren’t you! Let me warn you, now that you’ve got fame, you’re not allowed to mess around once we return home. If someone catches you by the pigtails, I’ll beat you to death.”

Xie Jianwei chuckled, “Why wait until returning home? The girls here in Country M are plenty spicy.”

Yan Ke said in exasperation, “Give me a break! Can you even get hard for a woman?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Please, I originally preferred women in the first place.”

Yan Ke thought it over and admitted, “True enough… before meeting Best Actor Lu, you were always a top, and you certainly had more female companions.”

Yet Xie Jianwei shifted his tune again, saying, “Better wait until returning home after all. My stamina hasn’t been great lately, so I doubt I could handle the beauties of Country M. Better build up my strength first.”

Yan Ke warned him a few more times, and the two gradually walked out of earshot.

Just on the other side of the partition, Lu Li and Xie Zhiwei stood frozen.

Lu Li was wound tight to the absolute breaking point, his fists clenched, like an enraged lion ready to rip everything before him to shreds at any moment.

Xie Zhiwei remarked in an airy tone, “He truly doesn’t like you in the slightest.”

Doesn’t like you, doesn’t like you, doesn’t like you…

Xie Jianwei genuinely didn’t harbor the slightest shred of affection for him.

Lu Li’s mind was flooded entirely with those words, yet surprisingly, he actually calmed down.

Not liking him was normal, something he had known all along, and the thing that mattered least.

He wanted him, and not even the Grim Reaper could think of tearing him away from his side.

Lu Li looked at Xie Zhiwei: “Reassured now?”

Xie Zhiwei said, “Very reassured.”

Lu Li said, “I will arrange the surgery as soon as possible.”

Xie Zhiwei smiled faintly: “Aren’t you going to let Xie Jianwei have his fun first?”

His words dripped with mockery, yet Lu Li didn’t utter a single syllable in response.

When two days passed and he still hadn’t been “dragged” to the hospital, Xie Jianwei felt somewhat perplexed. Had his performance not been dramatic enough?

Could it be that he truly had to stage an opportunity to flirt with someone?

After pondering for a while, Xie Jianwei had a rough idea of what was going on.

Lu Li was likely still terrified. Even though the bone marrow match between him and Xie Zhiwei was solid, a surgery was still a major procedure, and unexpected complications could arise at any point.

Even the most prestigious hospital with world-class surgeons could never guarantee a hundred percent success rate.

And if there was even a one percent chance of failure, Lu Li could never find peace of mind.

So eight or nine times out of ten, he was still psyching himself up.

The thought made Xie Jianwei sigh. Clearly, he was the one supposedly on the verge of death, so why did it feel like their roles had been swapped?

Who was the patient here, anyway?

Even while grumbling, sweetness bubbled inside his chest. There was no helping it; whose fault was it that his Big Li was so endearing!

Having waited for two days, Xie Jianwei decided he needed to give Lu Li a little nudge.

Since the man couldn’t bring himself to bite the bullet, he would help him along.

That evening, Xie Jianwei dressed in an exceedingly flashy, provocative outfit.

Yan Ke gasped, “My living ancestor!”

Xie Jianwei said, “Relax, it’s a masquerade ball. My face will be completely covered, and this is Country M, where nobody knows me anyway.”

Thinking it over, Yan Ke figured he couldn’t rein in this wild stallion anyway. Besides, Xie Jianwei had promised not to fool around once back home, so he had to toss him a bone for now: “Take it easy!”

Xie Jianwei gave repeated reassurances: “Rest assured.”

Naturally, Lu Li kept track of Xie Jianwei’s whereabouts like the back of his hand; the moment he stepped out, word reached Lu Li.

Learning of his destination, Lu Li took a deep breath and drove over as well.

This party was hosted by a party-loving youth from their film crew, where everyone wore masks to create an air of mystery, though in reality it was just a venue to hook up.

Xie Jianwei held zero interest in anyone present. He knew full well that once he showed up, Lu Li would certainly follow.

In any case, with Lu Li wearing a mask, he could simply pretend not to recognize him.

Sure enough, having circled the room once, his sharp eyes caught sight of that familiar silhouette.

Lu Li wore a full-face skull mask that concealed his features entirely, but when did Xie Jianwei ever need to look at his face to recognize him? He could tell purely by instinct.

Evidently, Lu Li didn’t think so, believing his disguise was flawless.

Xie Jianwei took the initiative to strike up a conversation: “Hello there.” He opened in stumbling English.

Lu Li remained silent.

Leaning in close, Xie Jianwei asked, “Want to go out and have some fun later?”

Hitting on someone so blatantly! Lu Li was twitching with fury, yet could only force himself to hold back. He should count his blessings that Xie Jianwei hadn’t gone and propositioned someone else.

Knowing that speaking would give away his voice, Lu Li merely nodded.

Beaming, Xie Jianwei said, “Why so quiet? Doesn’t matter, it’s quite intriguing actually.” Saying so, he even planted a kiss onto Lu Li’s mask.

“What an adorable skull mask.”

Adorable my foot, Yan Ke roasted in his mind. This baby was nearly scared to death! Fine, fine, beauty is in the eye of the beholder—can’t I just swallow this dog food in silence!

Hitting it off immediately, they walked out. Xie Jianwei asked, “My car is on the left.”

Lu Li took his hand and led him toward the right. In any case, he owned plenty of cars, most of which Xie Jianwei had never laid eyes on, so switching to a random one was effortless.

Xie Jianwei followed him into the car, and the two sped all the way to a hotel.

The two hadn’t been intimate in quite some time.

Xie Jianwei had zero need to act. Knowing full well who was beneath the skull mask, he was performing purely as himself.

Yet through Lu Li’s eyes, this presented an entirely different picture.

Without him, Xie Jianwei indeed went looking for someone else. Without him, Xie Jianwei would smile like this at others, speak so sweetly to others, and engage in these intimate acts with others.

With merely a fleeting thought of it, Lu Li was engulfed in a tidal wave of monstrous jealousy.

Xie Jianwei still played the fool: “Wearing the mask even while making love?”

Without uttering a peep, Lu Li slid his hand inside his clothes.

Tickled by the touch, Xie Jianwei asked, “What bizarre kink of yours is this?”

Lu Li gave the sensitive spot at his waist a firm squeeze.

His legs turning to jelly, Xie Jianwei slumped against him: “Hey, are you a top or a bottom?”

Lu Li: “…”

Mischief flaring up, Xie Jianwei provoked, “I want to be on top.”

Lu Li pinched his backside again. Xie Jianwei was melting from head to toe under his touch, yet his mouth remained stubborn: “If you won’t let me be on top, count me out.”

Lu Li didn’t say a word, slicking a bit of lubricant onto his fingers before invading with brute dominance. Military Advisor Xie, who had just been loudly proclaiming that he would only ever be a top, could do nothing more than whimper and moan.

Needless to say, it was a thoroughly satisfying roll in the sheets.

After that, Xie Jianwei rendezvoused with the masked man twice more. On the third occasion, Xie Jianwei dealt him a potent dose of medicine: “Hey, why don’t you take off the mask? I feel we’re quite compatible—how about we try a long-term thing?”

Those words struck Lu Li like a heavy mallet, jolting him wide awake.

Xie Jianwei genuinely “wanted” to be with someone else.

Xie Jianwei genuinely “would” be with someone else.

Had he not attended the masquerade ball that night, would Xie Jianwei have spoken these exact words to another man?

With merely that thought, Lu Li finally snapped to cold reality.

Cure his illness. And then, never let go of Xie Jianwei ever again.

No matter what means it took, he would bind him to his side, even if it meant earning his hatred.

Military Advisor Xie’s calculations were flawless; sure enough, he failed to open his eyes the next day.

The surgical preparations had long been in order, the doctors on standby around the clock, merely waiting for the patient’s admission.

In truth, Xie Jianwei could have played around a while longer; though leukemia was fatal, before full-blown symptoms flared up, he could have dragged it out and fool around quite a bit.

Especially with the Will of God intervening, had the clinical data not been staring him in the face, Xie Jianwei would have almost believed he wasn’t sick at all!

With Xie Zhiwei cooperating throughout, compounded by Xie Jianwei’s astonishingly stable condition that was extraordinarily primed for bone marrow transplantation, the procedure went exceptionally smoothly.

Though Lu Li had envisioned countless terrifying possibilities, the ultimate outcome was wonderful.

The lead surgeon summoned Lu Li, reassuring him with a smile, “Rest easy, the surgery was a complete success!”

Lu Li let out a breath of relief, visible exhaustion settling across his frame.

With Xie Jianwei yet to regain consciousness, he stood guard inside the hospital room, going nowhere.

By this point, Xie Zhiwei no longer contacted him either. He understood full well that once the transplant concluded, Lu Li would certainly renege on what they had “agreed upon.”

Being together or not was something that could only serve as leverage prior to the operation; once the surgery was completed, he had no remaining cards to coerce Lu Li with.

Which was precisely why Xie Zhiwei had relentlessly provoked Xie Jianwei before the procedure.

He had two objectives.

If Xie Jianwei loved Lu Li deeply, seeing him and Lu Li together would deal him a massive shock, and if it aggravated his illness, all the better; and if Xie Jianwei remained unaffected, that was even better—it would make Lu Li give up completely, seeing once and for all that Xie Jianwei didn’t love him. Either way was a triumph.

Even if Xie Jianwei recovered, so what? This episode would become an irreconcilable knot between them, impossible to untangle no matter what.

As long as misunderstandings persisted, Lu Li would remain perpetually insecure.

He wanted Lu Li insecure. Though the underlying reason remained a mystery, he was determined to make Lu Li firmly believe forever that Xie Jianwei did not love him.

A pity that the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; Military Advisor Xie had experience playing the canary, so he was no stranger to orioles either.

Wanting to tear him and Lu Li apart? Naive.

After remaining unconscious for several days, Xie Jianwei slowly, lazily opened his eyes.

Lu Li had never left his side. Seeing him wake, he hurriedly pressed the call button, and a line of doctors filed into the room.

After finishing their examinations, everyone breathed a sigh of relief: “Condition is excellent, but continuous monitoring is still required!” The doctors laid out a flurry of post-op instructions, which Lu Li listened to with rapt attention.

Although the surgery was a success, post-operative care was even more critical, allowing not the slightest slip-up.

Once the medical team departed, Lu Li looked at Xie Jianwei, asking in a low murmur, “How are you feeling?” He was ready to explain everything regarding Xie Zhiwei at any moment, but right now his sole concern was the youth’s well-being, merely wishing to hear him speak.

Xie Jianwei looked at him, faint surprise flickering in his eyes. Soon, he parted his lips, his voice raspy: “A-Li, is your mother alright now?”

Lu Li froze.

Frowning slightly, Xie Jianwei said, “Where… where am I?”

Apprehension creeping into his chest, Lu Li asked, “What did you just say?”

Xie Jianwei asked, “Is your mother’s health holding up well?”

“My mother?” Lu Li questioned him with growing unease. “Do you know what your name is?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Xie Jianwei, of course. Who else could I be?”