A Flicker of Hope and a Hidden Past

Upon reaching the hospital, Jiang Yan, thoroughly bundled, joined Wang Jian in carefully lifting Lin Yu, who was on the verge of unconsciousness from the searing pain. They placed him onto a waiting stretcher, which the hospital had prepared in advance, and swiftly transported him to the emergency room via a private elevator.

Approximately forty minutes later, the emergency room lights finally dimmed. Both Wang Jian and his father, Dr. Wang, had personally overseen the treatment.

“What happened to him?” Jiang Yan asked, his brows furrowed in concern.

Wang Jian replied, “He remained conscious throughout the treatment, even after we administered a painkiller. He told me he’s never experienced this kind of inexplicable bodily pain before; this is his first time.”

‘His first time?’ Jiang Yan thought, a wave of worry washing over him, yet also a strange sense of relief that the child hadn’t suffered this intensely before. ‘But what if, from now on, it turns out to be some rare, incurable illness? What would become of him?’

“I conducted a preliminary examination,” Dr. Wang said, pulling down his mask. “First, he shows no signs of skin disease, and we’ve ruled out the pain stemming from any physical injuries. The patient clearly articulated that the pain is widespread, affecting his entire body, even areas without visible marks. My next step is to arrange a neurological examination to see if there’s any neurological dysfunction.”

“Alright, thank you, Uncle,” Jiang Yan said, pressing his palms together. “You’ve gone to a lot of trouble for us.”

Dr. Wang also pressed his palms together. “I’ll attend to other matters now. You can talk with Little Jian.”

“Okay,” Jiang Yan replied, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips. “Hey, do you think others, if they encountered Lin Yu in this situation, would bother to help?”

Wang Jian considered this for a moment. “Hmm… that’s a good question.”

He mused, “Given my professional capabilities and financial standing, and considering his striking looks and the sort of personality that makes you feel protective at first sight, I’d most likely get involved and help.”

“So, in other words, my actions are perfectly normal?” Jiang Yan sought confirmation.

“Abnormal,” Wang Jian countered directly.

Jiang Yan blinked in confusion.

Wang Jian clicked his tongue. “I’m drawn to his good looks, obviously. If he looked just any old way, I might help him once, or maybe even set up an online fundraiser for him or something, doing my utmost and clearing my conscience. But because Lin Yu is so handsome, I’m simply more willing to spend more money and patience. You know what I mean, right?”

He winked conspiratorially at Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan lowered his gaze, pondering. ‘Are you suggesting I’m driven by lust?’

“Aren’t you?”

Jiang Yan licked his lips, not answering immediately. “I… I admit, he certainly caught my eye, but he’s so young. I genuinely haven’t thought of him in that way. Yet, I inexplicably feel this urge to help him. What should I do?”

“Help him, then! You have money, what are you afraid of?” Wang Jian joked. “Help him more often, let me earn more, ha ha ha!”

“Get lost!” Jiang Yan kicked him playfully. “Focus more on Lin Yu’s condition.”

“Speaking of which,” Wang Jian said, his expression instantly turning serious. “Based on my experience, the angles of the multiple injuries on Lin Yu’s body strongly suggest they were self-inflicted.”

“What?” Jiang Yan exclaimed, astonished.

“You know my father’s hospital has specialized rooms for psychological counseling, and I occasionally chat with the psychologists there, so I’ve learned a bit. Patients suffering from severe depression, autism, or anxiety often exhibit self-harm and suicidal tendencies. I’ve seen many diagrams illustrating injury angles; if you were to stand face-to-face with me and use a sharp object to cut me, the resulting wounds and the force applied would be entirely different from self-inflicted ones. Lin Yu has at least ten wounds, and their angles indicate they were made by his own hand.”

Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow, letting out a soft sigh. He had no reason to doubt Wang Jian’s professional expertise, nor their long-standing friendship; there was no need for Wang Jian to deliberately mislead him. ‘Why would such a foolish child harm himself?’

“I also feel that Lin Yu’s emotional state is deeply troubling. He’s constantly on high alert, yet it’s clear he’s trying desperately to restrain himself.” Jiang Yan recalled the usually docile Lin Yu suddenly losing control and smashing a bowl, only to immediately revert to his meek self, his face etched with self-reproach. His mood began to sour. ‘If the child truly suffers from depression, then such uncontrollable emotions and actions are perfectly understandable.’

“Among such patients, the most tormented are those like him, who are fully aware of their illness yet stubbornly rely on sheer willpower to endure it,” Wang Jian remarked, pursing his lips. “After Lin Yu broke your bowl, he quickly apologized and blamed himself for his outburst. He possesses a tenacious will to fight against his psychological demons. However, let’s not jump to conclusions here. Later, I’ll arrange for our hospital’s most experienced psychological counselor to speak with him. It’s possible he’s just been emotionally off these past few days, and it might not necessarily be a deep-seated psychological issue.”

‘One can only hope,’ Jiang Yan thought, though he suspected Lin Yu was, in all likelihood, suffering from depression.

“But I also need to give you a heads-up,” Wang Jian continued. “Psychological issues can often trigger various non-physiological ailments.”

Prolonged periods of intense mental stress can lead to conditions that medical science struggles to alleviate.

“So, you’re essentially diagnosing him with a psychological illness that’s causing this inexplicable full-body pain?” Jiang Yan asked, uncertain, hearing Wang Jian speak from both sides of his mouth.

Wang Jian replied evasively, “It’s just professional habit. I always speculate on various possibilities first to prepare the patient’s family mentally.”

“Family?” Jiang Yan shook his head with a wry smile.

Wang Jian teased, “From the way you’re showing concern, you’re more attentive than some actual family members.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Yan touched his nose, trying to compose his expression. “I really do feel a deep sympathy for him, for no particular reason.”

“Tsk, tsk, a fig tree is about to blossom,” Wang Jian quipped, his expression comically exaggerated as he poked fun at him.

Just then, the emergency room doors swung open, and a junior nurse wheeled out Lin Yu, who was now fully conscious.

“Dr. Wang,” the junior nurse said, nodding politely to both him and Jiang Yan, “the patient’s condition is stable now, and we’re arranging for his admission. Given his situation, he’ll require a designated caregiver. If family members are unavailable, you can hire one through our hospital…”

“I’m available,” Jiang Yan interjected promptly. “But I’m not family. Is that acceptable?”

“Where is his family?” the junior nurse inquired.

“I don’t have any family,” Lin Yu replied softly, turning his gaze to Jiang Yan. He asked timidly, “Can I stop spending your money now?”

‘He had intended to work as a caretaker at Jiang Yan’s villa for a full month without pay, considering it repayment for the medical expenses. He even hoped to take on other part-time jobs to repay even more, if possible. But now he was back in the hospital, and he had no idea how much more he’d cost Jiang Yan. It seemed he’d have to care for Jiang Yan’s house for an extra month just to break even.’

“Our hospital is running a special promotion,” Wang Jian declared, seamlessly fabricating a story to assist Jiang Yan. “You’re our 10,358th patient, so you get ten days of free hospitalization!”

Jiang Yan was speechless. ‘You’re something else, truly loyal.’

The guileless Lin Yu pondered this for a moment, then asked earnestly, “Really?”

‘In his short twenty-one years of life, it seemed good fortune had never truly graced him. Did Heaven know he wished to die, and so, in these past few days, had bestowed upon him all the luck he was meant to have in his later life, just so he could meet Jiang Yan?’

His eyes welled up as he looked at Jiang Yan.

“You absolutely mustn’t cry. If you cry, I’ll…” Jiang Yan massaged his chest. “Why does it ache so much?”

‘It felt so strange, as if he had been born owing this child an unpayable debt.’

Hearing that Jiang Yan would feel pain because of a stranger like him, Lin Yu’s heart swelled with a gratitude that unfurled like a vast, surging sea. However, having been numb for far too long, he found himself unable to convey his emotions to his face.

He quickly rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. He mustn’t cry, absolutely not. ‘Grandma used to say tears were the most useless thing. Grandma also said he shouldn’t trouble others.’

The junior nurses pushing the carts watched Lin Yu, and inexplicably, they too felt a pang of sorrow. It was clear at a glance that this child possessed an exceptionally sensible nature.

Wang Jian genuinely had no intention of charging Jiang Yan, so he solemnly assured Lin Yu, urging him to stay in the hospital without worry.

Lin Yu was assigned to a private VIP suite, a cozy thirty-square-meter space complete with a kitchen, bathroom, small living area, television, sofa, and a balcony – everything one could possibly need. It was compact yet elegant, pristine and tidy. ‘This wasn’t merely a hospital stay; it was practically a retirement retreat.’

Lin Yu felt unworthy of such extensive help. He was visibly reserved, repeatedly insisting that he wasn’t sick and that this full-body pain was merely an accident.

Jiang Yan, however, paid him no mind, instead asking with concern, “Would you like fish soup for lunch?”

Lin Yu nervously fiddled with his fingers, remaining silent.

Jiang Yan pressed on, “What are your sizes for clothes, shoes, and underwear?”

Lin Yu bit his lower lip. “You don’t need to buy me…”

“What toothpaste flavors do you prefer?” Jiang Yan continued. “Personally, I really dislike mint, so I usually opt for the sea salt variety.”

“Do you prefer cotton or silk pajamas for sleeping? I like wearing plush slippers in both winter and summer, what about you? Oh, and by the way, I don’t use towels; I use disposable pull-out ones. Should I get a few packs for you too?”

Lin Yu remained speechless.

“How long will I have to stay here?”

“Just stay for now; anything you don’t use, you can take with you,” Jiang Yan replied. “Do you need an air diffuser in the room?”

Lin Yu shook his head.

“Then, what else do you need?”

“Nothing at all.”

Jiang Yan insisted, “You must. Think about it.”

This gentle yet insistent demeanor from Jiang Yan made Lin Yu feel a flutter of panic, and he felt an overwhelming urge to cry. He dared not meet Jiang Yan’s gaze, fearing he would drown in the other man’s gentle emotions and be unable to tear himself away.

Outside the first-floor window, the landscape was bleak, with withered leaves swirling down on the wind. Yet, within Lin Yu’s heart, a faint warmth began to ignite, little by little. ‘Such kindness, arriving so suddenly and overwhelmingly, who could possibly withstand it? But Lin Yu, despite everything, forcefully pushed away this inexplicable kindness. If this was merely a fleeting beauty, he’d rather not touch it at all, fearing he wouldn’t be able to bear the loss.’

From within a low-lying evergreen bush, a grimy, fluffy white head suddenly emerged. A small cat, appearing to be only about two months old, cautiously poked its head out, then quickly retreated. With large, dark eyes, it carefully watched a passing doctor walk away before poking its head out again, opening its mouth to let out two soft ‘meows’. ‘It must be hungry.’

Lin Yu’s gaze was drawn to the scruffy white kitten, and he watched it intently.

Jiang Yan noticed Lin Yu’s sudden lack of response and, following his gaze, could tell the boy had a fondness for cats. The kitten quickly retreated back into the evergreen, leaving behind a few faint, mewling cries before disappearing.

Lin Yu lowered his eyelashes, a hint of disappointment clouding his expression. ‘It was already late autumn; he wondered if the little creature would survive the winter. Lin Yu yearned to take in the white kitten, but he was a person intent on seeking death. How could he possibly care for it?’

“I hope you find a kind soul to take you in, so you won’t starve or freeze,” he murmured, his reluctance palpable.

“Lin Yu, I’m stepping out for a bit. If anything comes up, call me,” Jiang Yan said, pointing to the phone on the bedside table. “I’ve registered a WeChat account for you and added myself as a friend. If you get bored, you can also message me and we can chat.”

Lin Yu nodded obediently. “Okay.”

“Want to go to the living room and watch TV first?”

“Okay,” Lin Yu replied, obediently following him. He settled onto the soft sofa, taking the remote control to browse for interesting programs.

Seeing that Lin Yu’s mood seemed stable for the time being, Jiang Yan felt reassured and stepped out of the ward.

He pulled out his constantly vibrating phone; it was his agent.

He answered, “Sister Sun, what’s up?”

“Oh, Jiang Yan, didn’t we agree to appear on Strawberry TV as a guest on an arts program? You were going to portray a historical emperor, briefly introducing his life and his love story with the empress. But the actress playing the empress suddenly has an urgent situation and can’t participate in the recording. The production team has an awkward request.”

“Tell me,” Jiang Yan said, already scanning his mental roster of actors to find a suitable replacement. The person needed the right image, temperament, and appearance to match the historical figure. This empress had a tragic life, ultimately sacrificing herself for the founding of the nation—a truly moving story. According to expert reconstructions, she was a delicate woman with a gentle face and a persistent melancholy in her brows, yet possessing an inner resilience. In truth, the original actress wasn’t a perfect match, but there hadn’t been a better option.

His agent, Sun Yali, continued, “A few days ago, didn’t you send me a picture of that beautiful boy from Funing Bridge? I showed it to the production team today, and the director immediately fell for him. He asked if he was an actor we were grooming and if he could cross-dress to play the empress. The director was incredibly excited, saying the boy’s image and appearance were simply divine—like the empress herself reborn.”

Jiang Yan was taken aback. ‘Sister Sun, you’ve probably already drafted ten plans for how to make Lin Yu a sensation, haven’t you?’ he teased Sun Yali.

“You know me so well!” Sun Yali exclaimed, equally excited. “Where could you find a boy with such an innate pure and innocent aura? He’s a treasure! We absolutely must make him a huge star!”

“What if he’s unwilling to enter the entertainment industry?”

“With my persuasive tongue, there’s no one I can’t win over,” Sun Yali declared confidently.

“Hmm…” Jiang Yan hesitated slightly. When he first met Lin Yu, his desire to bring him into the entertainment industry had been strong; after all, his unique aura was undeniably captivating. But now, he felt the industry was too chaotic and might corrupt Lin Yu. How wonderful it would be if he could simply remain this pure.

“I’ll get back to you later; I have something important to do right now.” Jiang Yan didn’t agree immediately.

“Alright, I’ll await your good news.” Sun Yali hung up the phone.

Jiang Yan rolled up his sleeves, walked out of the ward, and, looking at the evergreen bush, crouched down.

“Here, kitty, kitty?” He rustled through the bushes, searching for the small cat.