Sweetie, sleep with me tonight.

"Zhao Yuan? Hang in there, I'll take you to the hospital!"

He Zhuo bent down and carried him on his back, only then realizing how light he was, so thin that he couldn't feel any weight at all.

He Zhuo's eyes welled up with tears. Without thinking twice, he quickly carried him to the car and took him to the nearest hospital.

Seeing that He Zhuo hadn't returned by midnight, Jiang Youxi was worried about him and called him, only to find out that he was in the hospital.

"He's had an accident and is being treated."

Jiang Youxi instantly understood who he was talking about, told Jiang Xu, and rushed to the hospital.

When they arrived at the hospital, they saw the man sitting alone on a bench in the corridor, his hands on his legs, his fingers interlaced, his head bowed, motionless.

"Congratulations!"

He Zhuo paused, then slowly raised his head.

"How is Zhao Yuan?"

"They are still trying to save him."

Jiang Youxi didn't ask any more questions and waited with him.

After two hours of emergency treatment, Zhao Yuan was finally out of danger.

They also learned from the doctor that Zhao Yuan was in such poor spirits because he had not received proper care for a long time, resulting in muscle atrophy throughout his body and severe malnutrition due to prolonged hunger.

"Malnutrition? How could this be?"

"That's the question for you. He's disabled. As his family members, how do you take care of him?"

"I'm sorry, doctor, we are just his friends, not his family."

"What about his family?"

He lives alone.

The doctor expressed his understanding, gave them some instructions, and then left.

Zhao Yuan was wheeled into the ward.

Jiang Youxi and He Zhuo stayed up all night.

The following day at noon, Zhao Yuan finally woke up.

Zhao Yuan was taken aback when he saw the man sitting on the edge of the bed.

It turns out that he wasn't hallucinating that night.

Upon seeing that he had woken up, He Zhuo immediately called the doctor to come and examine him.

After examination, Zhao Yuan was found to be physically unharmed, but his injuries were too severe and he was still very weak, lacking even the strength to speak.

He Zhuo didn't say anything, quietly taking care of him the whole time.

Two days later, Zhao Yuan regained some of his strength and was able to speak again.

"Chi Kuo, thank you."

He Zhuo paused slightly in his hand holding the spoon, then continued to scoop more porridge from the bowl.

"Is Zhao Fei treating you badly?"

He was silent for a moment: "Ever since you stopped transferring money, he hasn't had any money for drugs and hasn't cared about me anymore."

He Zhuo looked surprised.

"I know everything. It's because you've been transferring money to me all these years that I've managed to survive until now." Zhao Yuan stared at the pristine white ceiling. "That's enough."

He should have died in that dark cellar long ago.

These ten years were given to him by Chi Kuo.

The only reason he's alive now is because of his unwavering belief in seeing him.

"sorry."

Zhao Yuan was taken aback, then smirked: "Chi Kuo, the person who should apologize the most is me, not you."

During Zhao Yuan's hospitalization, He Zhuo took care of him the whole time.

The relationship between the two has eased somewhat after spending these past few days together.

The two rarely spoke, but they understood each other implicitly.

They also understand each other's hearts.

On the fourth day of Zhao Yuan's hospitalization, Zhao Fei, who had been missing for several days, suddenly appeared and even pretended to care about Zhao Yuan's injuries and who had hit him.

Zhao Yuan watched his "performance" with a cold eye, without saying a word.

"Was it Chi Kuo who hit you?" Zhao Fei asked indignantly. "I knew it! Chi Kuo is a madman! Every day you live is a burden to him, the source of his guilt. He wishes he could kill you to end it all!"

"roll."

"Brother, what do you mean? I'm your closest brother, and he's a murderer, yet you're protecting him?!"

Zhao Yuan slammed the water glass on the table down: "I told you to get out!!"

The glass shattered on the floor, and there were water stains everywhere.

Zhao Yuan was so angry that his chest heaved violently, and his face turned even paler.

He clutched his chest, the intense pain almost causing him to faint.

"Trying to threaten me with death again?" Zhao Fei stepped forward, grabbed his collar, and lifted him up again, saying each word clearly, "Zhao Yuan, let me tell you, I'll settle this score between the Zhao family and Chi Kuo sooner or later!"

"Zhao Yuan," he patted his face, "you can't protect him. He should pay for the sins he committed."

"You think Chi Kuo is a pushover you can just bully?" Zhao Yuan coughed violently, but his face showed no fear. "Zhao Fei, if you want money, earn it yourself. Don't try to take it from others. You don't have the ability, and you don't have the brains."

Zhao Fei smiled smugly: "You should have noticed by now, right? Chi Kuo cares a lot about that Jiang Youxi. Chi Kuo is indeed a bit difficult to deal with, but Jiang Youxi..."

Zhao Yuan shoved him away with his body.

Zhao Fei took two steps back.

Zhao Yuan warned, word by word: "Don't touch her!"

Zhao Fei smiled and calmly said, "You won't die either, or I'll kill the person he loves most."

"..."

-

Zhao Yuan's health gradually improved, and he finally met the discharge criteria today and was allowed to leave the hospital.

After being discharged from the hospital, He Zhuo took him back to his home and hired a caregiver for him.

"No need, Chi Kuo."

He Zhuo paused, then looked at him: "Why?"

"I don't need it anymore."

He Zhuo frowned, about to say something, but then saw him gazing out the window at the boundless sea, smiling wistfully: "Suddenly I miss the happy times we used to go beachcombing together when we were kids."

He Zhuo followed his gaze.

Azure sea and blue sky, even the air feels free.

"I've been in the hospital for so long, I want to get some fresh air," he said, turning his gaze back to him. "Chi Kuo, could you push me to the beach?"

During his hospitalization, He Zhuo could sense that he was in a very low mood.

He Zhuo asked him, but he didn't say anything.

"What do you want to do?"

Zhao Yuan paused for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.

His smile was bright, relaxed, and unrestrained, as if he were still the carefree and optimistic boy he once was.

He glanced at him sideways: "You figured that out?"

He Zhuo gripped his shoulders: "I won't allow it!"

"What's forbidden?"

He Zhuo stared at him intently, without saying anything more.

The hand on his shoulder grew heavier and heavier, as if trying to grasp his already withered heart.

Zhao Yuan raised half of his arm, patted his shoulder with his elbow, and smiled: "Don't worry, we just made up not long ago. How could I possibly be willing to die?"

He Zhuo stared at him intently for a long time before withdrawing his hand, grabbing the handle with both hands, and pushing him out of the room.

The relaxed smile on Zhao Yuan's face gradually faded.

Late.

I am sorry.

I lied to you.