SGSHE59

Delighted, Jiang Shi turned and headed straight to her room to make a phone call.

Watching her walk away, Xi Xinghe flashed a mischievous grin. Keeping up the act of a shy, demure young wife all day was exhausting work, after all.

“Stop smiling like that, you’re breaking character,” Jing Heguang whispered into Xi Xinghe’s ear, adding softly, “I’m doing exactly as you say, am I being a good boy?”

Xi Xinghe dropped the mischievous look and gave an affirmative nod: “Good boy.”

“Then feed me a spoonful of porridge? As a reward.” Seeing how much Xi Xinghe was enjoying the meal, Jing Heguang felt a pang of hunger himself.

Xi Xinghe looked at Jing Heguang, who was gazing at him with eager, expectant eyes.

He sighed inwardly, then raised his hand to feed Jing Heguang a spoonful. He didn’t have the heart to leave him craving it. As for his own flag, well…flags are bound to fall eventually, right?

After eating the porridge, Jing Heguang leaned in close to whisper, “Xingxing, you’re so good to me.”

Xi Xinghe glared at him and raised his eyebrows pointedly: There are people around, don’t ruin my persona!

Suppressing the urge to kiss Xi Xinghe, Jing Heguang sat back up properly and began silently cursing Jiang Shi, hoping she would expose herself sooner rather than later!

Having to mind the setting even when kissing and cuddling in his own home was just too difficult! Jing Heguang was thoroughly dissatisfied.

***

The next day, in the doctor’s office.

Jing Heguang first filled out a self-assessment questionnaire, basing his answers largely on what the original owner had written previously.

He had no choice. Jing Heguang was mentally healthy, so if he answered truthfully, he wouldn’t need medication. And if the doctor didn’t prescribe any meds, the person plotting against him wouldn’t have a chance to strike!

Jing Heguang made only minor adjustments to the original owner’s answers. He wanted to signal to the mastermind behind the scenes: I’m so fragile, hurry up and make your move.

Once he finished, a medical assistant collected the form, and the doctor began a gentle, friendly conversation with him. The session focused primarily on inquiring about Jing Heguang’s clinical symptoms, aiming to gauge his mental state and the physical impact of his condition.

Upon hearing Jing Heguang mention that he had once contemplated suicide, tears immediately welled up in Xi Xinghe’s eyes and began to fall.

Jing Yongyan felt his own eyes sting as he listened, moved to the point of tears. However, just as he reached for a tissue, he noticed his daughter-in-law had already started crying.

He handed the tissue to him instead.

Xi Xinghe took it, stifling his sobs to avoid making noise, and whispered, “Thank you, dad.”

Thinking of how the young man had lost his own father long ago, a wave of paternal affection washed over Jing Yongyan. He patted Xi Xinghe on the back and said, “Don’t cry, it would break Heguang’s heart. Seeing you cry makes me feel bad too.”

Xi Xinghe nodded bravely. “Okay.”

With Xi Xinghe in tears, Jiang Shi, standing on the other side, naturally felt compelled to shed a few tears as well.

With someone crying on his left and another on his right, Jing Yongyan felt overwhelmed. His Heguang had suffered so much, he wanted to cry too!

***

By the time Jing Heguang finished the ‘inquiry’ phase of the session, he felt his mood had darkened significantly.

For him, revisiting the original owner’s painful memories was an incredibly heavy burden.

Never before had he so vividly perceived a person’s despair, sorrow, and anguish, or the way the original owner had all but lost the ability to feel joy, living in a state of constant despondency.

Stepping out of the doctor’s office, Jing Heguang wrapped his arms around Xi Xinghe and buried his face in the younger man’s hair, taking a deep breath to recharge his spirits.

Noticing Xi Xinghe’s reddened eyes, Jing Heguang kissed his forehead. “Don’t cry, it’s all in the past now.”

He was subtly letting Xi Xinghe know that he had moved past that dark phase of his life.

Xi Xinghe knew it too. Jing Heguang had improved immensely and was now capable of laughing and joking around. However, the thought of the suffering Jing Heguang had endured made Xi Xinghe’s heart ache uncontrollably.

If Jing Heguang’s eyesight hadn’t been restored, would his situation have been even worse than he described? Might he eventually have reached a point where he gave up all hope of living?

Reflecting on this, Xi Xinghe began to view the color he carried within him as a wonderful thing. After all, it had enabled him to save Jing Heguang and pull him out of a black-and-white world. He shouldn’t complain, he should be grateful!

Xi Xinghe hugged him tightly. “I know. It just hurts a little to think about it. It’ll be okay, you just have to stay healthy!”

“Okay. I promise.” Jing Heguang glanced toward Jing Yongyan. “If you keep crying, dad’s going to tease you.”

Xi Xinghe stole a look at Jing Yongyan, then turned his head away in embarrassment. “Dad wouldn’t do that.”

Jing Yongyan chimed in, “That’s right, dad wouldn’t tease Xinghe. There are just a few more routine tests left. Let’s get those done and then head back.”

The group then accompanied Jing Heguang for the remaining tests, including blood work and a CT scan.

The subsequent medical examinations were primarily intended to rule out underlying physical ailments. Certain physical conditions can manifest as emotional disturbances. Since Jing Heguang had previously suffered a head injury, these checks were essential.

Once the tests were complete, the doctor’s assistant quickly retrieved the results and placed them on the doctor’s desk.

Jing Heguang was sent home with a generous ‘care package’ of medications.

On the way back, Little Yellow Peach briefed him on the medication details.

[System scan complete: the medication is safe. Should the drugs be tampered with or swapped, the system will issue an alert.]

[Additionally, Host, please do not actually take the medication!! Doing so could compromise your health.]

Jing Heguang thought to himself: That means I’ll have to keep stalling.

He decided to stick to staying on the second floor for the time being, going down to the first floor would only get in the way of his love life!

***

Back home, Jing Heguang diligently ‘underwent treatment’ for several days.

Xi Xinghe was concerned: “Are you really not taking any medication at all?”

The medication from the past few days had all been poured down the drain; not a single half-pill had actually entered Jing Heguang’s system.

Jing Heguang hugged him and smiled, saying, “Just give me a kiss, and consider that my dose for the day!”

Xi Xinghe planted a quick peck on his cheek.

Jing Heguang pushed his luck: “Who takes medicine with their cheek?”

Xi Xinghe kissed him on the lips instead, then added earnestly, “If you feel unwell, you have to tell me. We should go back for another check-up later. I’m worried.”

After the hospital visit, Xi Xinghe had done some research on depression. Much of what he learned terrified him. He was afraid that Jing Heguang might do something drastic. Jing Heguang enthusiastically kissed him back, then said, “I’m really fine! My eyes are recovering, and my mental state is healthy. Besides, even if something were wrong, a kiss from you would fix it, and if that didn’t work, a few more kisses certainly would!”

Xi Xinghe thought: My heart aches for him, yet I can’t shake the feeling that he’s just tricking me into kissing him.

That instinctive, roguish behavior completely masked Jing Heguang’s usual air of innocence!

Xi Xinghe was certain now, his wealthy artist husband had shed the refined, pampered persona of his past and transformed into…an adorable goofball.

As the two chatted in the studio, a notification from Little Yellow Peach suddenly rang out in Jing Heguang’s mind.

[Ding! The medication is being tampered with. Host, please remain vigilant.]

Medication being tampered with meant the final showdown was at hand.

Jing Heguang was so delighted he planted another kiss on Xi Xinghe. “Xingxing, I think I forgot to hang up the bedsheets from last night!”

They had a washing machine in their room, but their recent…enthusiastic activities had generated so much laundry that they’d simply started doing it themselves.

Jing Heguang was actually a little worried he might ruin the sheets in the wash.

He mused with excitement: Once I deal with that mother-and-son pair, I should go buy a new set of sheets to celebrate!

Xi Xinghe said, “I’ll go hang them up. You’ve barely started on your painting.”

Jing Heguang had no heart to paint. “Let’s go together, I want to be with you. In a couple of days, you’ll be back at the flower shop, and I won’t be able to see you from morning till night.”

Xi Xinghe owned a flower shop in the city. As the boss, he had taken some time off for their wedding. However, with the owner away for a while, several minor issues had cropped up at the shop that urgently needed his attention.

Xi Xinghe let his big tail, his inseparable partner, tag along, and the two headed back to their room together. There was a turn in the hallway between the studio and the bedroom, fortunately, Jing Heguang was walking at a leisurely pace, so there was no bloody collision at the doorway.

***

Back in the room, after hanging up the bedsheets, Jing Heguang quickly noticed that something was amiss.

Jing Heguang said, “Someone tampered with my medicine!”

Xi Xinghe immediately looked toward the table.

How did he…well, it didn’t look like anything had been moved to him.

But that was easy enough to understand.

“Did you mark it?” Xi Xinghe asked, adding a compliment, “Heguang, you’re so smart!”

Jing Heguang replied, “I made a mental note of the bottle’s exact position; it’s definitely been tampered with.”

Little Yellow Peach sounded puzzled: [It was tampered with, but it’s still in the same spot, isn’t it?]

Jing Heguang answered Little Yellow Peach in his mind: “Others don’t know I have a thoughtful system like you! I need to find a reason to convince them.”

After praising Jing Heguang, Xi Xinghe remembered that Jing Yongyan had gone on a business trip that day.

He said guardedly, “Heguang, sad is away on a business trip today, whoever did this is really cunning! Let’s call dad first and see if he has boarded the plane yet.”

Jing Heguang nodded and dialed Jing Yongyan’s number.

***

Meanwhile, Jing Yongyan had already arrived at the airport but was still waiting for his flight.

He was resting with his eyes closed when the personal phone in his pocket began to vibrate.

Jing Yongyan was slightly startled. Seeing it was his son, Jing Heguang, he answered with a smile.

“Heguang? Dad hasn’t boarded the plane yet. If you’d called any later, I wouldn’t have been able to pick up!”

On the other end of the line, Jing Heguang said, “Dad, I need to tell you something, try not to get too worked up.”

Jing Yongyan chuckled, what kind of storms hadn’t he weathered in his time?

He said nonchalantly, “Go ahead.”

“My medicine has been tampered with.”

“What?! Someone tampered with your medicine?”

Upon hearing this, the blood rushed to Jing Yongyan’s head in a fit of rage. His eyes widened in anger, revealing the bloodshot veins caused by a lack of rest.

Realizing his son was likely terrified, Jing Yongyan suppressed his fury and said in a low, steady voice, “Hang tight. Dad is coming home right now!”

As he spoke, he immediately turned to the secretary beside him and said, “Offer a sincere apology to President Chen of Bihua on my behalf. We’re heading back.”

After instructing his secretary, Jing Yongyan turned back to Jing Heguang. “Heguang, don’t be afraid, and don’t panic. Just act as if you haven’t noticed anything. Close the door, stay inside, and don’t open it for anyone.”

While soothing his son, Jing Yongyan got into the car to head home.

Once the initial surge of anger subsided, his mind began to analyze who could have possibly tampered with the medication at home. After all, following his son’s previous incident, he had adjusted the surveillance in the common areas and implemented multiple security measures. Few people would dare to pull such a stunt, as the culprit would be easily identified.

Moreover, the household staff were paid exceptionally well.

Why did Jing Yongyan pay them so generously? Precisely because he expected them to work honestly and diligently.

Jing Yongyan ran through the possibilities in his mind, yet couldn’t think of anyone in the household bold enough to do such a thing.

Unable to pinpoint the culprit, he turned his attention to his son’s condition.

He breathed a massive sigh of relief upon learning that Jing Heguang hadn’t actually ingested the tainted medication. Thank goodness his son was smart enough to notice something was wrong!

As for the culprit…a name flashed in Jing Yongyan’s mind, one he could hardly bring himself to believe.

Author’s Note: I’m really stuck. I want to write sweet, fluffy moments—I don’t want to write plot!

T/N: Me like it, author. Sweets is enough, why need plot (๑ᵔ⤙ᵔ๑)